ActionAid has launched a campaign addressing the negative impacts of biofuels on food security, highlighting that increased demand for biofuel crops is driving food prices up and worsening hunger for millions, particularly in the developing world. The document mentions that land traditionally used for food production is being seized for biofuel cultivation, affecting vulnerable populations, especially women, who are facing increased difficulty in securing food. Public opinion in the UK reflects concerns about the relationship between biofuels and hunger, with a significant portion of the population opposing increased biofuel usage in fuel.

1. Biofuelling hunger ActionAid launches campaign on biofuels Photo: Atul Loke/Panos/ActionAid

2. What is going on? The demand for crops for fuel puts them in direct competition with crops grown for food; increasing food prices and forcing those struggling even further into poverty

3. Meet Carlotta Machaule, she lost her land with a farming association to a biofuel company Mozambique and is now fighting to reclaim her rights Photo: James Oatway/Panos/ActionAid

4. In 2008 alone the rise in food prices forced 30 million more people into hunger

5. Purchasing of food with 5,000 Kwacha (US$1) in Lusaka, Zambia, February 2008 Photo: Mwila Mulumbi

6. Purchasing of food with 5,000 Kwacha (US$1) in Lusaka, Zambia, February 2009 Photo Credit: Mwila Mulumbi

7. Increased demand for biofuels could push a staggering 600 million people into hunger by 2020 But how could biofuels do this?

8. Industrial biofuels are produced from agricultural crops like maize, wheat and sugar Busiswe Mpulo, maize farmer in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa Photo : James Oatway/PANOS/ActionAid

9. Through biofuel production crops intended for food become fuel instead

10. Image credit: Atul Loke/PANOS/ACTIONAID Two-thirds of the EU’s biofuels will be imported – with most coming from the developing world

11. In the developing world agricultural land is being used (sometimes seized) to meet the demand for biofuel crops Photo Credit: James Oatway/PANOS/ActionAid

12. Photo : worldmapsonline.com The current land grab is vast. In just 5 African nations an area the size of Belgium (1.1 million hectares) has been set aside for biofuel rather than food production

13. To meet EU biofuel demands 17.5 million hectares would be needed, an area over half the size of Italy!

14. The UK government is currently looking at increasing the use of biofuels to meet reduced emissions targets Flickr Photo : Senor Codo

15. By the end of 2010 two UK refineries could be burning 1 million tonnes of wheat to make biofuel for UK petrol

16. 1 million tones of wheat contains enough calories to feed the whole nation of Kenya for 25 days

17. The amount of corn required to fill the tank of a 4x4 could feed a child for year Chelimo, aged 9, and her aunt Margaret, northern Kenya Photo: ActionAid

18. At 40 meals per gallon that’s not very good mileage...

19. This biofuels boom will have the greatest effect on women

20. Photo: James Oatway/PANOS/ActionAid Women like Elisa Alimone Mongue Elisa’s family were small holders in Mozambique who grew their own food and sold the surplus on to generate income

21. Without her family’s permission a company seized her land to grow industrial biofuels Photo: Tim Rice/ActionAid

22. Elisa hasn’t been compensated and now makes reed mats to support her family but finds it hard to pay for food she otherwise would have grown. If the price of food increases even more, Elisa - like most women in the developing world - might have to reduce her intake of food so the rest of her family don’t go hungry .

23. So what do people in the UK think about biofuels?

24. *YouGov poll of 2,000 people Julio Ngoene, village chief and farmer, Mozambique Photo: James Oatway/Panos/ActionAid In a recent survey 40% of people think that biofuels cause or contribute to hunger *

25. 32% felt the UK Government should NOT be increasing the amount of biofuel in our petrol* *YouGov poll of 2,000 people Photo: Atul Loke/Panos/ActionAid

26. 49% of people have no strong opinions on whether the UK Government should be increasing its use of biofuels* *YouGov poll of 2,000 people Photo: ActionAid

27. Maybe it’s time we changed their minds?

28. Visit actionaid.org.uk/biofuels and E-mail the Department for Transport Lobby your MP Have your say and join the debate 4. Spread the word and make a difference

29. Biofuels: Stop the disaster before it happens “ What we want is to get our farms back because that is what our livelihood is dependent on... we are dying of hunger and there is nothing that we have that is actually our own.” Matilde Ngoene, mother and farmer, Mozambique, November 2009 Photo: James Oatway/Panos/ActionAid

30. www.actionaid.org.uk Figures from YouGov plc: Total sample size was 2000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th - 21st December 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+)