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December 17, 2008 : conference "Biofuels : prospects, risks and opportunities", Paris (France)
On 17 december 2008 was held the conference Biofuels : prospects, risks and opportunities.
Hafez Ghanem, FAO Assistant Director-General of the Economic and Social Development presented the report The state of food and agriculture 2008
Synopsis of the conference
2:30pm - 3:30pm : presentation of the report
Hafez Ghanem, Assistant Director-General of the Economic and Social Development, FAO
3:30 - 4:00 : discussion
Baba Seid Bally, President,african Association for promotion of biofuels
Alain Jeanroy, Director-General, General Confederation of beet planters
4:00 - 5:30 : floor discussion
The state of food and agriculture 2008 explores the implications of the recent rapid growth in production of biofuels based on agricultural commodities. The boom in liquid biofuels has been largely driven by policies in developed countries in support of climate-change mitigation, energy security and agricultural development. The growing demand for agricultural commodities for the production of biofuels is having significant repercussions on agricultural markets, and concerns are mounting over their negative impact on the food security of millions of people across the world. At the same time, the environmental impacts of biofuels are also coming under closer scrutiny. But biofuels also offer the opportunity for agricultural and rural development - if appropriate policies and investments are put in place.
