Why We Decided to Do FoodPriceTruth.org

The 2020 Project is sponsoring a campaign called FoodPriceTruth.org. It is supported by donations from several biofuels stakeholders, including advanced biofuels companies.

We are sponsoring the project because the debate about "food versus fuel" has been skewed by corporate interests running aggressive PR campaigns. The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) -- who are underwriting the campaign -- want the world to believe that biofuels are increasing the price of food while it largest members spike food prices and sharply increase their profits during the crisis. General Mills, Kelloggs and Kraft are all reporting much higher profits this quarter -- some of their quarterly reports acknowledge that their profits stem from higher prices --while their lobbying arm pretends to be sympathetic to the consumer.

Sound familiar? Yes, that's Big Oil's playbook as well. Price of crude goes up to the degree that you would think the refiners would be hurting, and instead they make record profits. It's a simple plan: run interference so that consumers are confused, then increase prices because "you have to."

The bottom line is biofuels have an incredibly small impact on the price of food while the rising price of oil is the primary cause of the problem. And if world hunger is the concern, then we should start discussing the real causes of the problem (think trade policy, droughts and increasing demand in developing countries).

Please check out the website www.foodpricetruth.org ... making sure to visit the press room ... and let us know if you have any thoughts.