Agrofuels and the right to food in Latin America

An increasingly greater proportion of so-called bio-energy is produced from agricultural crops traditionally used as food and animal feed. The production of non-food crops for energy production also requires land and water. This creates direct competition for resources needed to feed the world population, of which around 854 million people suffer hunger and malnutrition, the majority in rural areas.

The possible impact of agrofuels on the human right to adequate food for the most oppressed and marginalised social groups must be considered prior to applying policies and programmes that encourage the production, investment and trade of agrofuels.