Biofuel policies could drive up food prices and impact trade balance
This study uses a fancy computer model to look at how competition between food and biofuels can affect prices and quantities. The researchers created a special model that considers many regions and time periods, plus a limited amount of farmland. They focused on fuels, food, and biofuels and studied how different biofuel policies might impact things like prices, jobs, and trade. The research shows that promoting biofuels can lead to more biofuels in cars, slightly higher food and fuel prices, and more farm jobs. However, the effect on trade balance can be tricky, especially depending on how the model is set up. Importing biofuels from other countries could lower the demand for crude oil.