Biofuel 'to raise food demand'

Expanding biofuel production could see demand for some staple foods soar in the years to come, coupled with the pressures placed by energy consumption during the farming process and the cost of production.

The warning comes from the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA), which notes that the materials used in biofuel must come from somewhere.

As the production of biofuel increases - with government targets one driving force behind this occurring - the supply of raw materials could come under some pressure.

The list of commodities that could be impacted as a result includes sugar, vegetable oil, coarse grains and wheat.

However, IEMA adds that, at present, it is not demand for crops that is growing the fastest, but demand for meat - particularly in developing economies where dietary tastes are changing.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy and Climate Change notes that research into second-generation biofuel including wood, food waste and algae is helping to discover ways to relieve the anticipated pressure on crops for human consumption.