Biofules drive up world food prices 75%

Or so says a "confidential report" by the world bank.  From the British Guardian:

Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% - far more than previously estimated - according to a confidential World Bank report obtained by the Guardian.

The damning unpublished assessment is based on the most detailed analysis of the crisis so far, carried out by an internationally-respected economist at global financial body.

How confidential can this report be, when the Guardian is announcing its conclusions?  But this is no big secret.  It's a no-brainer.  Shifting a lot of agricultural production from food to biofuel, just when energy costs put a lot of additional pressure on food costs everywhere, was bound to shrink the table at every shanty town around the world.  That might be a price worth paying if biofuels helped us solve the energy problems, instead of making them a little bit worse. 

Biofuel policy is a pretty good example of what makes conservatives skeptical about government intervention in the economy.  Unlike private business, government can afford to invest in big ideas.  But government doesn't' see its bottom line fall when the big idea turns out to be a bad idea, so long as its a pleasing idea.  Biofuel, like wind power, is a pleasing idea. It may also turn out to be a deadly idea, for a lot of people living on the margin.