PERSPECTIVES ON BIOFUELS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: GRAIN AS FUEL OR THERE IS A LIMIT* ?

Countries, motivated by different issues (e.g. increases of the oil prices, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions) promote the expansion of biofuels industry. In this context, it is important that the development of strategies that promote biofuels not to have undesirable consequences over aspects such as environment, the level of GHG emissions, food security, the prices of food products, the living standards of people in developing countries. In this paper, some aspects regarding the choice between using grain for food or for fuel will be discussed. Two opinions will be under debate. First, using biofuels can help in the transition process from conventional to alternative sources of energy. Secondly, using grain for fuel could be considered a wrong idea, if we have in mind that people from some developing countries don’t have enough food and suffer from hunger. Also, we bring into discussion aspect related to biofuels and their connection to climate change.