SFA Urges Congress to Reconsider
Food-to-Fuel Policies
(Continued from homepage.)
Thomas told committee members that snack food manufacturers
like Herr’s have seen production costs rise by at least
15 percent due to the skyrocking costs of commodities. Farm-level
corn prices have increased more than 150 percent, and soybean
prices have jumped more than 100 percent, he said.
“Congress should reduce our reliance on food as an
energy feedstock and should instead accelerate the development
of fuels that do not pit our energy needs against the needs
of the hungry or the environment,” Thomas said, noting
that food prices rose by 4.9 percent during 2007 – the
largest increase in 17 years – and the domestic price
of basic staples such as eggs, milk, meat and eggs have increased
even more dramatically in the last three years.
“In particular,” he stressed, “we believe
that Congress should accelerate the development of cellulosic
ethanol derived from crop wastes, grasses and other materials
that do not increase food prices, hold significantly greater
promise to displace traditional sources of gasoline, and could
have less impact on the environment.”
Thomas predicted that food prices will continue to rise as
more corn and soy oils are diverted for fuel, only worsening
a situation that hits the poorest and most vulnerable Americans
the hardest.
“Food inflation will rise by 7 to 8 percent over the
next few years, as up to 40 percent of our corn and 30 percent
of our vegetable oils are diverted from our food supplies,”
he predicted. “What’s more, food-to-fuel mandates
increase greenhouse gas emissions and pose other environmental
challenges, including poor air and water quality and water
shortages.”
Thomas said that in addition to reducing the nation’s
reliance on food as an energy feedstock, Congress should accelerate
the development “of fuels that do not pit our energy
needs against the needs of the hungry or the environment.”
Thomas’ testimony capped a three-day initiative by
SFA member company executives who participated in the association’s
Day in D.C. Spring Summit, during which they met with dozens
of members of the House and Senate and their key staff representatives
to discuss their concerns about high commodity prices and
other key issues of concern.
View Thomas' testimony via U Tube, please click HERE.
|
