United Nations Radio

A global increase in biofuel production threatens to deprive the poor in Latin America of much needed food. This is the latest warning coming from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The news study released at the FAO conference in Brasilia says the rapid expansion of agro fuels "would compete with food crops for water, land and capital and thereby increase food prices".

Professor Bob Watson, who heads the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development, agrees that using food crops for fuel in many parts of the world is not economically or environmentally sustainable if it is not done well. But in his view biofuel still has a big potential:

"We should push aggressively on second and third technology for biofuels, where you can use the whole plant, and we're potentially optimistic if we put the money into the research for second and third generation biofuels it could be something that can go to scale if done well, it can replace fossil fuel production and use in some parts, and it could have social benefits as well as environmental benefits."

Professor Watson stresses that more research is needed in the area of biofuel.

Reporting for UN Radio, I am Elena Vapnitchnaia.

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