ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to demonstrate the hollowness of the so-called "food versus biofuel dilemma". It then presents the general reader an overview of the global implications of biofuels from a perspective of land use and food price impacts. The chapter examines biofuels from a historical perspective, global land use, grain production and consumption and impacts on food prices, including food waste. In addition, it considers the role of agriculture, a key-determining sector in the future development of biofuels. The historical development of biofuels has not been exempted from pitfalls. It has had many supporters and many detractors. Finally, the chapter tries to answer the question, "is there really a food versus dilemma?" and concludes that there it is not, since there could equally be other multiple and compatible alternatives that invalidate this misperceived view, based on distorted facts.
