Henry I. Miller

The headlong rush in many parts of the world to replace oil with biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) illustrates how the best of intentions can run afoul of the law of unintended consequences. While positive effects have been elusive -- and, in fact, are unlikely with current policies -- starvation and malnourishment are becoming worse among the poorest of the poor. Ethanol can do little to affect oil consumption, but the diversion of grain from food to fuel has profound effects on commodity markets. more

United Nations policies and programs are actively and aggressively preventing the development and use of important tools that could help to increase worldwide access to safe drinking water. The introduction of plants that grow with less water would allow much of that essential resource to be freed up for other uses. However, during the past decade, various U.N. agencies and the Convention on Biological Diversity have created major regulatory obstacles to partial solutions from plant breeding. more