America's energy consumption impacts the world

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Today is Dec. 14, and corn is more than $4 and $11 for soybeans. This is what American corn farmers and soybean farmers deserve without a doubt. We can thank the domestic ethanol investments for the increase in the price for our corn. I am in Berlin, Germany, this week listening and discussing the effects of bio-fuels on farmers and their communities, globally. There are more than 100 leaders of non-government organizations here at this conference. Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America are all represented here, and they represent farmers from every corner of the globe.

The title of the conference “Agro-fuels: Opportunity or Danger,” might shock some people in America or Europe. We in America would ask what danger could there be in high-priced corn for farmers? This dialogue between large consuming nations of fossil fuels, (American and the European Union), and potentially large producers of bio-fuels (Africa, South America, and Asia) is very productive in many ways. The U.S. is benefiting from bio-fuels in the name of energy independence and reducing CO2 or greenhouse gases (GHG).

Simultaneously, the country of Bali has 189 voting delegates around the world who have come to address global warming in significant and meaningful ways. The number one polluter is the United States, and American delegates stopped this conference dead in its tracks. America can not have it both ways, biodiesel and ethanol that receive large U.S. government subsidies for blending and then the same government blocks real substantial changes in GHGs.

Bureau County and the surrounding area are well known in Illinois as a renewable energy friendly area. The Patriot Renewable Fuels plant near Annawan, and the many wind farms puts over $500 million in local investments. This is a massive commitment that needs to be acknowledged and protected by good public policy and awareness. One threat to these local renewable investments and the people who have made them is predatory global investments in Indonesia, South America and Eastern Africa. They are moving to dump ethanol on America as quietly as they can. Their purpose is to lower the price of corn and ethanol.

The real concern is how it is being done. A Brazilian farmer was shot and killed on Oct. 20 by private security forces of a multi-national seed company. The Brazilian government is turning a blind eye to slave labor by large grain farmers who are clearing more rain forests for corn and beans for renewable fuels. This is an unfortunate use of the world’s resources and a misguided policy. Many small farmers and indigenous people are being intimidated to move or leave their homes. This way of doing business by multi-nationals is accelerating now with higher prices for soft commodities.

Our agriculture leaders and policy makers need to meet this challenge head on. America’s consumption of energy does impact the rest of the world. We need to look strongly at conservation here at home, not just for another country to buy energy from.

Keith Bolin of Manlius is president of the American Corn Grower’s Association.