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Title:
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The changing dynamics between biofuels and commodity markets
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Author(s):
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
Policy Studies
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6-6-2008
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-M--08-052
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Conference Paper
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Number of pages:
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Full text:
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5
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Download PDF
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Presented at: 16th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition, Valencia, Spain, 2-6 juni 2008.
Abstract:
The recent development of the biofuel industries coincides with significant increases in prices of basic commodities such as food and feed. Against popular perception, it appears that there is not a straightforward causal relationship between the two; there are a number of factors that determine the level and strength of the impact of the biofuels sector on other commodities. For the case of markets of agricultural raw material these factors include the amount of feedstock claimed by the biofuels industry, its relative purchasing power, the responsiveness of the agricultural sector to price incentives and availability of substitutes. For consumer food markets we must additionally consider the relative share of agricultural input costs in the retail food price and the demand elasticity. Based on the analysis of these factors and estimates of other studies that attempted to quantify the price impacts of biofuels on crop prices, we conclude that the impact of biofuels is relatively small, especially when compared with other causes that triggered the recent price increases. We end the paper with a recommendation for future efforts in curbing food price inflations while keeping ambitious biofuel targets and suggest a shift in focus of the debate around the social costs of biofuels.
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