Over the last couple of years we have heard more and more about bio-fuels and how they are set to save the world from dependence on oil, but is it real? Or is it the biggest con trick of all time?

We hear today that the UN have called for a halt to the growing of bio-fuels which they say are leading to massive rises in the price of food around the world. As well as the UN call for a halt to the production of bio-fuels we also hear that the energy used to produce the bio-fuels is substantial more than the energy created from the fuel, i.e. it is not anywhere near as efficient as the “experts” would have you believe. So what next?

While there have been many against bio-fuels from day one, in theory they do offer an interesting alternative to our dependence on oil, the price of which recently hit $120. There is no doubt that the rise in the price of oil has added greatly to the cost of food (increased transport expenses are added into the end price) but the fact that bio-fuels are produced from crops which are common in the food markets has increased the demand and the price for such crops – adding yet further to the cost of food.

Why are we even considering bio-fuels?

The fact that we are so desperate to find an alternative to oil has pushed us down the road of bio-fuels, but the headlines do not always reflect the underlying picture and the real situation. The added expense and costs which bio-fuels are bringing to the party are mounting up and it is starting to look as though the billions of pounds spent on research and development may be counter productive when the whole picture is considered.