Biofuels, food, and the World Bank

The figure emphatically contradicts the US government's claims that plant-derived fuels contribute less than 3% to food-price rises. It will add to pressure on governments in Washington and across Europe, which have turned to plant-derived fuels to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and reduce their dependence on imported oil.

Senior development sources believe the report, completed in April, has not been published to avoid embarrassing President George Bush.

In contrast, Environmental Capital (at the Wall Street Journal) has this to say:

Bob Davis of the WSJ spoke with Donald Mitchell, the author of the draft report--which wasn't secret at all, but a working paper. And like all working papers, it doesn't reflect the official position of the World Bank.

The report was meant to contribute to a World Bank position paper on rising food prices, which was released at the Bank's spring meeting in mid-April.

The final April report didn't include his specific calculation. But, Mr. Mitchell says, "I never saw that as political." Instead, he says he believes the changes were made because of "editing." He said that he has been encouraged by World Bank management to explore the issue of biofuels and the overall rise in food prices. "I had input" into the final report that was released at the spring meeting, he said.

Mr. Mitchell said that because of the publicity engendered by the Guardian piece, the World Bank is trying to put out a polished version of his report by the end of this week.