Mexico seeks biofuel that won’t crimp food supply

Mexico

In a country where many go hungry, Mexico’s government has been slow to invest in biofuels for fear of cutting into food supplies. This state of affairs might be changing. President Felipe Calderón last month announced a US$85-million pilot project to turn out homegrown biofuel, citing recent advances in fuels derived from non-edible crops. “We want to generate renewable energy, diesel and ethanol without affecting food production in Mexico,” he said while inaugurating a sustainable-forestry convention in Guadalajara. Under the new model, the state oil monopoly, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), will collaborate with small-scale producers to boost biofuel production and incorporate alternative fuels in its distribution system, Calderón said. The project would reward states already supporting efforts to create large-scale... [Log in to read more]

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