I am writing to you today in response to the Committee on World Food Security’s (CFS) Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments V0 draft report. I would like to introduce the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) and open a dialogue to ensure that the principles included in the report foster the growth of the global biofuels industry.
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biofuels friendly policies internationally. Through the development of new technologies and best practices, Alliance members, who represent over 65% of global biofuels production from 44 countries, are committed to producing renewable fuels with the smallest possible footprint.
The global biofuels industry has recently been cited by the FAO and proven in studies to have the ability to support agriculture and rural development. Consequently, the GRFA’s position on the report is that future drafts must include principles that encourage biofuel investment as part of responsible agriculture investment.
The GRFA has long stated that investing in biofuels supports agricultural investment and rural development. This was supported by the FAO’s recent “Bioenergy and Food Security (BEFS) Analytical Framework” report that stated;
“…Investment in bioenergy could spark much-needed investment in agricultural and transport infrastructure in rural areas and, by creating jobs and boosting household incomes, could alleviate poverty and food security.”
Bioenergy and Food Security project leader, Heiner Thofern went on further to say;
"FAO has been saying for years that under-investment in agriculture is a problem that seriously handicaps food production in the developing world, and that this, coupled with rural poverty, is a key driver of world hunger. Done properly and when appropriate, bioenergy development offers a chance to drive investment and jobs into areas that are literally starving for them."
A recent GRFA study reaffirmed the FAO’s position, finding that global biofuel production supported nearly 1.4 million jobs in all sectors of the global economy in 2010. These jobs not only include direct biofuels production, but also jobs in agriculture, other supplying industries, and other sectors such as retail and wholesale trade that benefit from the economic activity generated by biofuels. The largest share of employment for ethanol occurs in the U.S. and Brazil, although the fastest growth is projected to be realized in the developing Asian and African producing countries. As the biofuels industry expands, the employment impact is projected to grow to more than 2.2 million jobs by 2020.
Days ago, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva launched the African Year of Agriculture and Food Security, stating that agriculture must become the engine for growth that Africa needs to eradicate hunger and boost sustainable food production. The GRFA feels that investing in and expanding Africa’s biofuels industry can be a significant part of the solution to eradicating hunger in Africa.
The World Bank agreed with this strategy in 2011 in a report titled, “Biofuels in Africa: Opportunities, Prospects, and Challenges.” It found that biofuels offer new opportunities for African countries and can contribute to economic growth, employment, and rural incomes while becoming an important export for some countries and providing a low-cost fuel for others.
Principles 1 and 2 of the draft report, “Responsible investments in agriculture and food systems enhance peoples food security and generate positive socio-economic impacts for all, men and women,” certainly coincide with the GRFA’s position. The importance of biofuels to agriculture is particularly notable since feedstocks produced by the world’s farmers provide significant revenue and stimulate future agricultural production that will enhance food security on a global basis.
The GRFA would welcome feedback about how we could further assist the RAI Open Ended Working Group further develop this report and build on Principles 1 and 2 so the report fosters investments with the best benefits, like biofuels.
Dear Ms. Blank,
I am writing to you today in response to the Committee on World Food Security’s (CFS) Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments V0 draft report. I would like to introduce the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) and open a dialogue to ensure that the principles included in the report foster the growth of the global biofuels industry.
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biofuels friendly policies internationally. Through the development of new technologies and best practices, Alliance members, who represent over 65% of global biofuels production from 44 countries, are committed to producing renewable fuels with the smallest possible footprint.
The global biofuels industry has recently been cited by the FAO and proven in studies to have the ability to support agriculture and rural development. Consequently, the GRFA’s position on the report is that future drafts must include principles that encourage biofuel investment as part of responsible agriculture investment.
The GRFA has long stated that investing in biofuels supports agricultural investment and rural development. This was supported by the FAO’s recent “Bioenergy and Food Security (BEFS) Analytical Framework” report that stated;
“…Investment in bioenergy could spark much-needed investment in agricultural and transport infrastructure in rural areas and, by creating jobs and boosting household incomes, could alleviate poverty and food security.”
Bioenergy and Food Security project leader, Heiner Thofern went on further to say;
"FAO has been saying for years that under-investment in agriculture is a problem that seriously handicaps food production in the developing world, and that this, coupled with rural poverty, is a key driver of world hunger. Done properly and when appropriate, bioenergy development offers a chance to drive investment and jobs into areas that are literally starving for them."
A recent GRFA study reaffirmed the FAO’s position, finding that global biofuel production supported nearly 1.4 million jobs in all sectors of the global economy in 2010. These jobs not only include direct biofuels production, but also jobs in agriculture, other supplying industries, and other sectors such as retail and wholesale trade that benefit from the economic activity generated by biofuels. The largest share of employment for ethanol occurs in the U.S. and Brazil, although the fastest growth is projected to be realized in the developing Asian and African producing countries. As the biofuels industry expands, the employment impact is projected to grow to more than 2.2 million jobs by 2020.
Days ago, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva launched the African Year of Agriculture and Food Security, stating that agriculture must become the engine for growth that Africa needs to eradicate hunger and boost sustainable food production. The GRFA feels that investing in and expanding Africa’s biofuels industry can be a significant part of the solution to eradicating hunger in Africa.
The World Bank agreed with this strategy in 2011 in a report titled, “Biofuels in Africa: Opportunities, Prospects, and Challenges.” It found that biofuels offer new opportunities for African countries and can contribute to economic growth, employment, and rural incomes while becoming an important export for some countries and providing a low-cost fuel for others.
Principles 1 and 2 of the draft report, “Responsible investments in agriculture and food systems enhance peoples food security and generate positive socio-economic impacts for all, men and women,” certainly coincide with the GRFA’s position. The importance of biofuels to agriculture is particularly notable since feedstocks produced by the world’s farmers provide significant revenue and stimulate future agricultural production that will enhance food security on a global basis.
The GRFA would welcome feedback about how we could further assist the RAI Open Ended Working Group further develop this report and build on Principles 1 and 2 so the report fosters investments with the best benefits, like biofuels.
Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or visit www.globalrfa.org.
Sincerely,
Bliss Baker
President
Global Renewable Fuels Alliance