Location: Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Event Website: http://www.ucd.ie/earth
Start Date: 27/03/2009
End Date: 27/03/2009
Dr. Kevin McDonnell, UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science & Veterinary Medicine.
The heated global food-versus-fuel debate has changed the way we view the potential development of the biofuels industry in Ireland, it also affect the way financial institutions evaluate the financing of biofuel projects that could siphon off food ingredients like cereals or rapeseed.
It's a good thing that voices have been raised in that debate. Biofuels are not a complete panacea, we have to distinguish between what are the better sectors of biofuels. Critics have questioned the environmental and social benefits of biofuels, putting major producers like Brazil on the defensive. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said earlier this month a global increase in biofuels production threatens to make food for Latin America's poor less accessible.
But how valid is this debate in Ireland? In 2007, Ireland saw soaring prices for grain, milk and other agricultural ingredients – this was relate