Could Our Love of Ethanol Create a Worldwide Food Crisis?
How Growing Demand for Corn in the United States Causes Ripple Effect
MILWAUKEE, July 23, 2015 - You are likely to see it every time you fill up your gas tank; a little sticker that reads “Contains Up to 10% Ethanol.”
The use of Ethanol in the United States is growing because of its environmental impact and the big push to make the U.S. to be less dependent on foreign oil supply. In fact, 40% of corn grown in our country is now being used for Ethanol.
That’s great for corn growers, but Professor Michael Wetzstein of Purdue University warns it could cause problems worldwide.
“In the short-run if you have a boom in Ethanol use it can increase the price of food,” Wetzstein said. “That could cause an increase in malnutrition around the world.”
What can be done here at home and in other countries? Wetzstein highlights the problems and solutions in “U.S. Ethanol and World Hunger: Is There a Connection?”.
Check out this presentation July 27th as part of the 2015 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.