An introduction to ActionAid UK's biofuels campaign launched in February 2010.
The campaign is based on extensive global research of the risk that the continued growth of biofuels poses to food security in the developing world as well as to climate change. ActionAidUK is currently lobbying the UK government and Department for Transport to review its policy of increasing the percentage of biofuel in transport fuels to meet EU targets. For more info please visit actionaid.org.uk/biofuels or contact us on twitter @actionaiduk
3. Meet Carlotta Machaule, she lost her land with a farming association to a biofuel company Mozambique and is now fighting to reclaim her rights Photo: James Oatway/Panos/ActionAid
4.
5. Purchasing of food with 5,000 Kwacha (US$1) in Lusaka, Zambia, February 2008 Photo: Mwila Mulumbi
6. Purchasing of food with 5,000 Kwacha (US$1) in Lusaka, Zambia, February 2009 Photo Credit: Mwila Mulumbi
7.
8. Industrial biofuels are produced from agricultural crops like maize, wheat and sugar Busiswe Mpulo, maize farmer in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa Photo : James Oatway/PANOS/ActionAid
10. Image credit: Atul Loke/PANOS/ACTIONAID Two-thirds of the EU’s biofuels will be imported – with most coming from the developing world
11. In the developing world agricultural land is being used (sometimes seized) to meet the demand for biofuel crops Photo Credit: James Oatway/PANOS/ActionAid
12. Photo : worldmapsonline.com The current land grab is vast. In just 5 African nations an area the size of Belgium (1.1 million hectares) has been set aside for biofuel rather than food production
13.
14. The UK government is currently looking at increasing the use of biofuels to meet reduced emissions targets Flickr Photo : Senor Codo
15. By the end of 2010 two UK refineries could be burning 1 million tonnes of wheat to make biofuel for UK petrol
16. 1 million tones of wheat contains enough calories to feed the whole nation of Kenya for 25 days
17. The amount of corn required to fill the tank of a 4x4 could feed a child for year Chelimo, aged 9, and her aunt Margaret, northern Kenya Photo: ActionAid
18. At 40 meals per gallon that’s not very good mileage...
19.
20. Photo: James Oatway/PANOS/ActionAid Women like Elisa Alimone Mongue Elisa’s family were small holders in Mozambique who grew their own food and sold the surplus on to generate income
21. Without her family’s permission a company seized her land to grow industrial biofuels Photo: Tim Rice/ActionAid
22.
23.
24. *YouGov poll of 2,000 people Julio Ngoene, village chief and farmer, Mozambique Photo: James Oatway/Panos/ActionAid In a recent survey 40% of people think that biofuels cause or contribute to hunger *
25.
26. 49% of people have no strong opinions on whether the UK Government should be increasing its use of biofuels* *YouGov poll of 2,000 people Photo: ActionAid
30. www.actionaid.org.uk Figures from YouGov plc: Total sample size was 2000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th - 21st December 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+)