The emergency petrol summit on 8th March 2011 was called to discuss the unpopular new fuel in the presence of oil company representatives, car makers and motorists. Minister of the Environment Norbert Röttgen does not believe that there is likely to be a dilemma in Germany relating to the use of crops for the production of biofuel. Dr. Detlef Virchow, Executive Manager of the Food Security Center at the University of Hohenheim, outlines his position in the following interview, which is a contribution to the “University of Hohenheim – strength through communication” thematic year 2011.

Yes and no, depending on the geographic area we are talking about and on the timescale of the effects. In Germany and other developed countries in the northern hemisphere I do not believe that there will be any direct competition between crops used for human nutrition and those used for the production of bioethanol. Germany has many fallow areas and is more than able to purchase any food it needs on the world market. German farmers may even be able to tap new sources of income by opting to grow renewable energy carriers. In addition, I also believe that high prices for these plants could well be positive for the farmers. I do not foresee any dramatic effects on food availability in the short term.

I do not think there will be any direct consequences for Germany. As far as indirect consequences are concerned, all plants used for human food have to be grown somewhere, and if they are not grown in Germany they need to be grown elsewhere. The risk then is that any danger that may be associated with the cultivation of crops for biofuel production will be felt by other countries. And as has been seen in the past, developing countries will be affected the most. The tortilla crisis in Mexico is only a foretaste of how the USA’s crop cultivation policy will affect the American continent in the medium term.

Yes it is. But it shows that any shortage in food increases speculation on the markets, with the usual results for developing countries: hunger and increasing poverty. The hunger riots in Haiti that came about due to exploding prices and the shortage of food in early 2008 have shown that the poor and hungry are no longer satisfied with empty promises.

No, of course not. But we have to keep in mind that the behaviour of a global player like Germany has signalling effects on other countries. If we decide to use large agricultural areas for the production of biofuel crops, other countries will follow our example. And this will mean that people with less money, i.e. the poor in developing countries, will no longer be able, or only partially be able, to cover their food requirements on the market.

Yes. Although German car owners will be primarily concerned just about their car engines, the production and sale of E10 will initiate different functional chains that will lead to an increase in hunger and poverty in developing countries. In addition, these chains will also contribute to increasing environmental destruction. The introduction of E10 will prove to be a fairly explosive mixture, and will most likely only very rarely have a productive outcome such as it has had in Tunisia and Egypt.

In addition, there are general doubts as to whether E10 is actually able to reduce environmental pollution in Germany. I think that we need more intelligent ways than E10 to solve our energy problems.

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