Food requirements likely to trump energy demands

In three decades, US taxpayers have paid out $20 billion in subsidies for ethanol products, which allowed the oil substitute gain a small part of the fuel market — while using nearly 40% of American maize — grown on 72.7m US acres.

Not surprisingly, President Barack Obama is under pressure from all sides (including the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation) to end ethanol subsidies and mandates.

Such a move would transform world agriculture.