There's something else we need to consider when looking at our current food problem, as well as bioethanol, and biodiesel. The feed stocks that are used to produce biodiesel and bioethanol, as well as bread, tortillas, animal feeds and cooking oils were harvested way back in August of 2007. Most of the growth in the biofuel industry has happened since that time.

We have grown accustomed to the idea that all grains are available all year, and this is only because of huge silos that exist around the country for the storage of these grains. The current shortages reflect a drastic change in the way these feed stocks are used. Farmers are making adjustments to compensate for the shortages for economic reasons for next year, but have not largely benefited from the high price of biodiesel and bioethanol, the people who buy, sell and trade the grains sitting in silos have. Competition will drive down prices, and higher profits for farmers will drive up productivity.