Adjusting Biofuel Policies to Meet Social and Rural Development NeedsAnalysing the Experiences of Brazil, India and Indonesia

Resumo

This brief examines the social dimensions of the rapid expansion of biofuels as a key element of ‘green economies’ in the making. It compares three different contexts (Brazil, India and Indonesia) in the developing world, where biofuels have been often promoted under the arguments of poverty alleviation, social inclusion and rural development. The assessment reveals a general mismatch between the social discourse and the biofuel policy instruments adopted. Benefits to poor people in rural areas have been very limited, and far too often they have been left worse off after being incorporated in biofuel production chains under disadvantageous conditions. Better outcomes depend crucially on: (i) building on traditional livelihoods, rather than attempting to replace them; (ii) involving social movements in policy- and decision-making to ensure due consideration of the needs and interests of poor people in rural areas; and (iii) inserting provisions that allow smallholders to climb up the value chain, thus addressing the inequality structures that keep poor people poor. (…)

Ficha do documento

Tipo

Estudo

Ano

2013

Instituição

Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada

Fonte

Repositório do Ipea

Idioma

Inglês

Acesso

Acesso aberto

Identificador

oai:repositorio.ipea.gov.br:11058/15121

Licença

Licença total exclusiva

Palavras-chave

AdjustingBiofuel PoliciesSocial and Rural DevelopmentNeedsAnalysingExperiencesBrazilIndiaIndonesia