Corn... fuel... fire! U.S. corn subsidies promote Amazon deforestation

Our government subsidizes specific crops for specific reasons according to what America ‘needs.’ But, what are the implications of the subsidies? America is unavoidable, what we do on the Homeland impacts other regions of the world. What are the implications of the new ethanol revolution? The article provides great insight.

Amazon deforestation and fires are being aggravated by US farm subsidies, claims STRI’s staff scientist William Laurance.

According to Laurance, whose findings are reported this week in Science (December 14), a recent spike in Amazonian fires is being promoted by massive US subsidies that promote American corn production for ethanol. The ethanol is being blended with gasoline as an automobile fuel.

“American taxpayers are spending $11 billion a year to subsidize corn producers—and this is having some surprising global consequences,” said Laurance.

Posted by kbz
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