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Demand for ethanol is starving Mexicans

by Kaitlin | February 8, 2007 at 10:53 am

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Ethanol made from corn is likely one of the earth's most viable (read: cheaply produced) alternatives to oil. Corn can be grown in many places, after all. Last I checked, Kansas wasn't feeling particularly hostile towards President Bush.

However, people eat corn, and as corn is now in demand to make fuel...well...

Many people, including scientists and some big companies believe that we are running out of oil. What oil there is, is located mostly in very hostile environments. One possible alternative to oil is ethanol. Lately, there has been a high demand for ethanol. Even U.S. President George W. Bush said “We must continue investing in new methods of producing ethanol…” Ethanol is primarily made out of corn. The more demand there is for ethanol, the more expensive corn becomes. But ethanol is not the only product made out of corn. So are corn tortillas. Over the last six months, the price of corn meal for tortillas in Mexico has doubled. Most Mexicans rely on corn tortillas to keep from going hungry. Entonces: many Mexican families are now worried about going hungry because we may be running out of oil.

Voila. Couldn't have said it better. So maybe we need an alternative to this alternative? Biodiesel, anyone?

Biodiesel is typically produced by a reaction of a vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst to yield mono-alkyl esters and glycerin, which is removed.

Ah, crap. Sorry, Mexico.

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rohaca

at 18:04 on February 8th, 2007

I think "starving" is a real stretch !! The price of tortillas has fluctuated, but gasoline rises every month which affects peoples eating habits just as much....

Jorge Luna

at 04:13 on February 9th, 2007

I agree wit rohaca, "starving" is a very strong word. Many mexican families base their diet on tortillas and an increment of 100% has affected thousands of people but not to the point of starvation (I would think).

Sadly this crisis is, as happens with a lot of social problems, being used as a political argument against the current government and not in the best interest of the mexican people.

Stabler

at 05:30 on February 9th, 2007

Of course the simple solution to this problem, if it indeed is one, is to grow more corn, or soybeans or what have you, that can be produced into ethanol. Land is lying idle and people are looking for work and cheaper gas...it's all basic Economics 101, supply and demand.

ghchinoy

at 20:47 on February 15th, 2007

This is quite silly. The price of corn in Mexico's not going up due to alternative fuel use, but because of corporate growers and distribution cartels (read: their government). Not allowing farmers to grow and distribute their own agriculture's the cause, not the big bad US (or Venezuela, for that matter).

See: http://seekingalpha.com/article/26784 and http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexprices9feb09,1,861535.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

It's a common misconception that ethanol's the cause of their recent inflation... primarily because it makes good sensational press!