Heads of Brazilian, EU, Canadian and US ethanol groups write to UN Sec-Gen: “Apocalyptic statements by Special Rapporteur of the Right to Food are unacceptable”

The heads of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, (US) Renewable Fuels Association, European Bioethanol Fuel Association and the Brazilian Sugar Cane Industry Association wrote to the UN Secretary-General yesterday regarding the Interim Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food submitted to the General Assembly on August 22.

They said  that “The apocalyptic statements made by the Special Rapporteur, calling biofuels production a “crime against humanity” and a “recipe for disaster,” are not only unjustified but also unacceptable,” and offered a detailed response to the Report. Meanwhile, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was visiting Brazil yesterday and praised the Brazilian ethanol industry, saying “Brazil is the quiet green giant. It leads the world in renewable energy. It has one of the cleanest energy economies in the world. Brazil is one of the few nations to successfully produce biofuels on a large scale.”

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