Biofuels as energy source in developing countries

Biofuels are liquid fuels made from biomass (plants and trees), and include biodiesel for trucks or generators and ethanol for cars or cooking. A domestic biofuels industry can create good jobs, increase income in rural areas, and reduce the need for costly imports of foreign oil.

The United Nations Initiative will assess biofuels potential within developing countries and work with national decision-makers and private-sector groups, including NGOs and civil society groups, to develop country-specific strategies for the production and use of biofuels.

It is supported by the UN Foundation and is being undertaken in partnership with five UN agencies working in coordination:

• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
• United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)


However, a United Nations expert has condemned the growing use of crops to produce biofuels as a replacement for petrol as a crime against humanity, fearing that biofuels would bring more hunger given that food prices have risen as more land is used to produce biofuels.

He complained of an ill-conceived dash to convert foodstuffs such as maize and sugar into fuel, which created a recipe for disaster by diverting arable land to the production of crops which are then burned for fuel.

He called for a five-year ban on the practice.