Will Asia’s food shortages be exacerbated by new Global Biofuels Alliance, with crops diverted?

• Policies and subsidies for crops to boost the use of biofuels and advance associated technology may cause food supply issues, say analysts
• Plus, increased production of biofuels may mean more palm oil plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia, aggravating climate change

Environmentalists are split over whether the launch of an international biofuels collaboration at this month’s G20 summit in India may end up harming climate mitigation efforts and exacerbate food shortages.

The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) – its members including India, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil – aims to help boost global efforts to meet net-zero goals by accelerating the use of biofuels.

Import-dependent nations are also searching for alternatives following a surge in crude oil prices recently to around US$95 per barrel.