Australian pork producers oppose New South Wales ethanol mandate

Australian pork producers are up in arms about the New South Wales government's decision to increase the legal level of ethanol in fuel.

Australian Pork Limited general manager for policy, Kathleen Plowman, said the change will weigh on the grains market, driving up the cost of grain and grain dependent meat industries such as pork.

She opposed the move saying that a succession of international studies has shown that, far from helping to cut global carbon dioxide emissions, (starch based) biofuel production can often give more carbon dioxide than it saves.

Ethanol, an alcohol fuel made from corn, competes with corn feed for corn supplies.