Biofuel and food security in China and Japan

Tatsuji Koizumi

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013, vol. 21, issue C, 102-109

Abstract: The Chinese government is promoting the national biofuel program to deal with energy security and excessive grain stocks. The Japanese government is promoting a biofuel program to deal with climate change and energy security, and to promote rural development. This study is an economic analysis of the competition between biofuel and food, and the relationship between biofuel and food security in China and Japan. The definition of competition between biofuel and food can be divided into food and food-related demand, and agricultural production. This analysis shows that not only the feedstock of agricultural product-based biofuel, but also cellulose-based biofuel competes with food and food-related demand, and agricultural production in China and Japan. It is assumed that non-food-based biofuel and cellulosic-based biofuel do not have a serious impact on food security on a country and sub-country level in China and Japan, because the amount of feedstock used for non-food and cellulose-based biofuels is small. However, such use could have a negative impact on undernourished households in China. In its promotion of biofuel development, the Chinese government has to pay full attention to nutrition levels of households. In 2010, the Japanese government released draft sustainable criteria for biofuel, but did not cover food security in partner countries. Such criteria should consider food security in partner countries.

Keywords: Biofuel; Food security; Competition between biofuel and food; China and Japan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.12.047

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