In Midst Of Palm-Oil Boom, Concerns Grow In Thailand About Food Shortages - AFP

[hatrack]

BANGKOK (Thomson Financial) - Thailand has started requiring that all its diesel fuel include a component made from palm oil, a move that could reduce costly energy imports but is driving up prices for the commodity, experts say.

From February 1, the kingdom began requiring that diesel vehicles run on a blend that includes 2 percent biodiesel, and is considering raising that to 5 percent within five years.

The switch has sent prices for palm oil soaring, leading to shortages of the commodity that is widely used for domestic cooking and in the food industry.

EDIT

Wannaporn Martkasem, chairman of the Palm Oil Refinery Association, said floating palm oil prices would help prevent a shortage in stores, but warned the government would have to find a better way to balance the competing demands for food and fuel. 'Palm oil prices are increasingly affected on the market because of the rising demand for palm oil for biofuel and consumer consumption,' Wannaporn said. Prices for crude palm oil have nearly doubled over the last year, jumping to 35.98 baht per kilo last month, up from 18.63 baht one year earlier. A litre of cooking oil cost 36.32 baht in December 2007, up from 28.05 one year earlier.

EDIT

http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/02/14/afx4659303.html

[GliderGuider]

1. Sigh.

What have we been saying for over a year now?
Agrifuels are a crime against humanity.

:banghead:

[izquierdista]

2. Growing fuel is the answer!

But not in ways where it competes with food. See this thread for the right way:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x133733

[GliderGuider]

3. Only if it's done in very small quantities like they're planning.

If biofuels are perceived and implemented as a general solution for transportation, there will be a biological catastrophe no matter what the source is.

Algae might be an exception to that assessment, but we have no way of knowing, because nobody has produced algal biodiesel in large quantities yet. I'm willing to bet that we'll discover a variety of show-stoppers on that route as well. It won't stop us from trying, though.

As in all other aspects of this clusterfuck, the real solution lies in reducing human activity -- a lot. And I don't know may people who are willing to do that.

[izquierdista]

4. Each little bit helps

Conservation, more wind turbines, passive and active solar, geothermal, biofuels from land AND sea, the problem can be solved. If all the money that was spent on the Iraq war went to the aforementioned technologies, the solution might already be at hand.

[GliderGuider]

5. Hang around here for a while.

This place will definitely cure your incurable optimism.

[izquierdista]

6. I'm contagious

I give it to other people. :bounce: