Challenging the Food vs. Fuel Dilemma: Genealogical Analysis of the Biofuel Discourse Pursued by International Organizations

This article looks critically at how food and agriculture-, energy security-, and climate change-oriented international organizations have consolidated and modified the biofuel discourse in relation to the agricultural system. Using genealogical analysis of discursive formations, the article traces the institutions" biofuel debate in relation to rural production. The prevalent motive is an aspiration to combine the agriculture and energy markets, which prompts structural changes and challenges in the rural sector. This has implications for the future role and shape of global agriculture and--contrary to the food versus fuel perspective--calls for re-conceptualizing the biofuel debate as the food versus food dilemma.