As predicted by many environmentalists recently, the demand for corn (or maize) for biofuel production has started to cause suffering among the poorest of communities. Western demand for biofuel is leading to higher prices and declining food stocks for people in the poorest countries. An example of this is Mexico, where demand for corn in the USA has increased dramatically since president Bush stated his aim that the US produce 35 billion gallons of biofuels by 2017. Corn is a main staple in the Mexican diet, and when the price jumped by 50% there were protests in the streets. The Mexican government had to step in and enforce a price freeze. As demand grows further there are fears that decreased stocks and price rises will create more problems in Mexico. As Doña Catalina, making and selling tortillas from her little shop says "Poor corn..It isn't meant to go in cars. It is meant to feed our children and our grandchildren. And their grandchildren too."
The scale of demand for biofuel crops such as corn is staggering. In the US alone there are already 121 ethanol biorefineries with a 76 under construction. Even so, this will only meet a third of president Bush’s quota of biofuel production. The whole international biofuel production process has to be managed effectively and fairly otherwise it will be another case of the richer developed countries inflicting suffering on the poorest countries to satisfy their own greed.
You ought to spend the time to accurately research your subject before opining.
A little research on the Mexican Corn situation reveals that the price increases were caused by speculation in corn by a few, favored suppliers in a tightly controlled market, not biofuel demand.
A little more research would reveal that most farmers have for years planted corn because A. that was what they knew how to do, and, B, planting it was better than allowing the land to return to brush. Threre was infrequently or never any more earned on the crop than just enough to pay to plant it again. Biofuel demand may actually provide farmers(and rural communities) measurable income from their crop.
This dovetails interestingly with recent articles about biofuels demand increasing the price of spaghetti, as European growers of durum wheat switch to more profitable corn. Again, a little research reveals that wheat prices to growers have been held down by limited market, controlled by mills producing semolina flour. Farmers will grow what profits them, as well they should, and if your rigatoni costs a little more, use a little less meat in the sauce!!