An investigation by The Guardian reveals that half of the 3.2 million hectares already planted are owned by British companies. The goal of multinationals is exported to the European Union (EU), which has adopted guidelines for the progressive increase in the percentage of biofuel in each liter of petrol and diesel. But the rules have been criticized by experts and April were strongly condemned by a commission of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.

According to the British newspaper, at least in the UK only 31% of imported biofuel regards voluntary environmental standards for the protection of water sources, soil quality and carbon emissions in the country where it is produced. In Africa there are more than 100 projects and 50 companies to the industry itself belies the idea that biofuel crops may occupy marginal lands and dry that are not used by agriculture for food.

Cultivate jatropha in a profitable way on dry lands is a myth. Needs water, fertilizers and pesticides to ensure high return, "admits Peter Auge, manager of projects that Sun Biofuels in Tanzania has, of about eight thousand acres which are grown jatropha, one whose seeds are used for biofuel.

The return required by African governments to authorize these plantations is also criticized. "There are no plans to build refineries, nor obligations for foreign investors to reserve part of their production to the domestic market, " says Jamidu Katima, professor at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

James Smith, Professor of African Studies and Development, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, The Guardian points to another problem: "The investment is proven to go far ahead of our knowledge on the impacts of biofuels, such as the expropriation of lands. " Local farmers lose arable land and survive destroying vast areas of forest.

Source: www.dn.pt