Strengthening the food security provisions in biofuel sustainability certification

The food versus fuel debate continues to create uncertainty in the bioenergy market and has been cited as an influential factor in recent proposals and decisions by the EU Commission to limit and phase out the amount of food-based biofuel production that can qualify under its Renewable Energy Directive. Yet little definitive evidence has been provided on the impact of biofuels on food security. The evidence base is particularly lacking in low-income countries where the establishment of a viable biofuel sector has been stifled by policy and market uncertainty, despite the potential for positive impacts in terms of poverty reduction and food security. In order to address social and environmental concerns surrounding biofuel production a number of voluntary sustainability certification schemes have been established, but few specifically address food security. This paper assesses how sustainability certification standards can help to ensure that biofuels deliver better food security outcomes. This could help reduce uncertainty and encourage biofuel investment in rural areas of developing countries where poverty and hunger is most rife.