The G7 leaders met in the Bavarian Alps to address the ramifications of the Ukraine conflict and two of the world’s other most important issues: climate change and agricultural production.
With grain shipments currently stranded in Ukraine, conversations shifted to how the entire globe could free up resources in the face of scarcity and rising food costs.
Earlier this week, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson advocated for biofuels to be reduced. Two-thirds of the biofuel employed in normal grade (E10) gasoline in 2021 came from products that otherwise have remained food. Ukrainian corn accounted for one-fifth of the total. Germany, like the United Kingdom, has called for a freeze on biofuel quotas.
We put pressure on European lawmakers the following week by revealing that Europe pumps 17,000 tons of frying oil into vehicles every day. This equates to 19 million bottles. This, together with the 10,000 tonnes of grains Europe uses for biofuels every day, is putting a significant strain on the global food supply.
However, in comparison to the US, the leaders’ final statement was unsatisfactory. Nonetheless, they will remain vigilant in their long-term push for alternate transportation fuels, as well as their goals for climate, ecology, and food security.
Nonetheless, the world’s leaders have continued to fail to prioritize food before fuel, condemning the world’s most needy to scarcity and high prices. President Biden prioritizes farmer revenues and vehicle fuel bills over the demands of millions of people worldwide who are struggling to get enough food.