Food security and the 'biofuel panacea': A case study of the Barbados 'fuel cane' project.

摘要

Over the past decade there has been a renewed interest worldwide in biofuels. Much of the optimism for biofuels stems from its potential to achieve multiple goals simultaneously---biofuels are seen as a way to increase energy supply, improve rural livelihoods and mitigate climate change. Thus biofuels are often promoted as a panacea, or a solution to all problems. The main questions examined in this paper are whether biofuels can achieve all of these goals, and whether biofuels may have unintended consequences on other types of agriculture, particularly food production. It is revealed through a case study approach that in Barbados there are numerous limitations of the 'fuel cane' project, which is currently being implemented in Barbados. In particular, biofuels in Barbados may have long-term consequences for food security on the island.