World

US and EU urged to cut biofuels

by Sanjay Jha | July 7, 2008 at 08:16 pm

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G8 summit in Japan has started with the calls for enhancing food security and reducing trade barriers on farming products. Leaders have urged to tackle the food crisis on a priority basis. UN secretary general also asked leaders of G8 to commit long term agricultural investment and ease food export on humanitarian ground.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick has called for reform of biofuel policies in rich countries, urging them to grow more food to feed the hungry.

He was speaking at the G8 summit in Japan, where soaring food and fuel prices are top of the agenda.

The G8 leaders have been holding talks with seven African leaders.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon - also at the summit - urged the group to tackle the "interconnected" challenges of climate change, food prices and development.

Speaking on the sidelines of the summit on Hokkaido island, Mr Zoellick said biofuels - transport fuels made from crops - had made a contribution to food price rises.

He laid particular blame on fuels made from corn and rapeseed produced in the United States and the EU.

"The US and Europe also need to take action to reduce mandates, subsidies and tariffs benefiting grain and oil seed biofuels that take food off the table for millions," he said.