<The ASPO-Italy conference in Torino The Oil Drum DrumBeat: May 10, 2008>

175 comments on Peak Oil Media: Food v. (Bio)fuel, Fast Money saying "It's Supply, Stupid" and Cramer on Ending the Ethanol Mandate

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mdsolar on May 10, 2008 - 11:58am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

As is becoming quite clear, we have not had overproduction of food in the past. We have had an underproduction in the last couple of years. We presently have inadequate food stocks. While price supports may not be the best way to assure adequate buffer surplus they have not been excessive in terms of performing that function.

Chris

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Kiashu on May 11, 2008 - 2:47am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Each year we've produced about 2,100Mt of grain. We need 1,230Mt if we feed people nothing else - give 'em their calories and protein, no nutrition.

About 750Mt goes to livestock, and 350Mt to biofuels. World stocks are about 420Mt, and these float up and down by 5-20Mt each year.

If not for biofuels, world grain stocks would rise by 340Mt or so each year - not far off doubling.

We produce enough food, it's just that a lot of it isn't used as food, but fuel.

We can easily feed the world twice over from what we grow. But we cannot both feed it and fuel it. When it comes to grains: food, livestock and fuel - choose any two.

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paal myrtvedt on May 11, 2008 - 5:22am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

yes Kiashu I think this is a valid piont, thus fuel must suffer!

.... food, livestock and fuel - choose any two

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175 comments on Peak Oil Media: Food v. (Bio)fuel, Fast Money saying "It's Supply, Stupid" and Cramer on Ending the Ethanol Mandate

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