Regan Suzuki of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization has provided a warning to countries that have already begun converting millions of acres to palm oil, sugar cane, and other crops used to make biofuels. This warning talks about the risk involved in producing biofuels.

The idea behind biofuels is that it provides an alternative to fossil fuels. People have considered that it could be the panacea for countries that are facing the increasing prices of oil.

Suzuki noted that the problem with biofuels is the increased competition for agricultural land. Countries like the US and Mexico could find themselves experiencing food shortages because of a price hike in corn. China and India could also experience worse water shortages since production of biofuels require vast amounts of water. Indonesia and Malaysia could also face threats from the expansions of palm plantations.

At the moment, Thailand is currently considering delaying the introduction of diesel fuel that is combined with biofuel because of palm oil shortages. The Philippines is also taking into consideration putting on hold a biofuels law because of its negative environmental effects. As for India, the country is now facing criticism on its plans to plant 30 million acres of jatropha trees which could force communities out of their home and worsen deforestation.

Until recently, scientists, private agencies, and even the British government have said that biofuels could do more harm than good. These crops that are used as biofuels take away land from natural forests. The multitudes of trees in these forests store carbon, which are keyin fighting and reducing global warming.

Varghese Paul, a forest and biodiversity expert with Energy and Resources Insitute in India, said that dependency on a single crop is a very dangerous option. He commented that, "An outbreak of pests and diseases could wipe out entire plantations in one stroke."