GROUPS ASK CONGRESS TO EXAMINE FOOD-TO-FUEL MANDATES
News Date May 06, 2008
A diverse group of food industry organizations, environmental and hunger groups, and others are calling on Congress to revisit the food-to-fuel mandates that are contributing to the growing global food crisis.
The letter was addressed to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) who held a May 1 hearing in the Joint Economic Committee on rising food prices. The letter argues that while many factors impact food prices, the one factor that Congress has the power to control are "congressional mandates and subsidies to turn food crops into fuel."
Nineteen groups signed the letter, which highlights the fact that "food-to-fuel" mandates have led to the diversion of over one quarter of America's corn crop to ethanol production. The letter stresses that this amount is expected to increase to 40 percent by 2015, and therefore urge Congress "to continue examining food-to-fuel mandates in the context of national and global priorities." Groups that signed the letter include the American Meat Institute, National Chicken Council, Grocery Manufacturers Association, American Frozen Food Institute, Environmental Working Group, World Wildlife Fund, National Retail Association, and the Hispanic Institute. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)