Biofuel is bigger food security concern
Re: April 18 Alberta Farmer Express opinion article by Laura Rance.
As a child born to a farming family in the early 1950s , I learned the importance of producing food as well as not wasting food. Laura, how could you write an article expressing such grave concern about global food insecurity and not even mention the fact that nearly 40 percent of the world’s largest crop — U.S. corn — is used for ethanol? Not to mention soybean acreage increases and the whoop-ee about the three new prairie canola crushing plants, all to make fuel from crops that displace food grain crops. Then there is the April 21 Western Producer article explaining U.S. president Joe Biden’s 3 1/2 month extension on his 15 percent ethanol blend in gasoline and his promise to consider making it permanent .
Read Also
Agriculture needs to prepare for government spending cuts
As government makes necessary cuts to spending, what can be reduced or restructured in the budgets for agriculture?
I’m a businessperson and learned long ago that when cutting costs, start with your biggest cost first. In other words, if your business is over-capitalized and has a line of equipment and vehicles that is costing excessive interest and depreciation, let’s not fuss about the basement light being left on.
I certainly agree with your point that a waste of food is also a waste of seed, fertilizer transportation and processing .
Laura, it’s nice to make a pot of soup from left-over food, but let’s address the biggest waste of food and resources first .
Jim Brown
Edgerton , Alta.
