• ISBN13: 9780745330129
• Binding: Paperback
• Subject: Bio-Science and Agriculture
• Publisher: Pluto
• Publisher Imprint: Pluto
• Publication Date: January 1, 2010
• Pages: 280
• Original Price: GBP 18.99
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 250 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): Industries / Energy, Power Resources / Alternative & Renewable, and Environmental Economics

Since they were heralded as a key weapon in the fight against climate change, agrofuels have been criticised heavily for doing more harm than good due to deforestation and stealing agricultural land essential to farmers in the developing world. This book asks whether there is any place for agrofuels in a low-carbon future.

François Houtart argues that the green potential of agrofuels has been wasted by businesses that put profits above environmental protection. This has led to the absurd situation where an energy source that should be sustainable actually increases human and ecological damage, simply due to the profit-maximising decisions of capitalists rather than a flaw in the concept of agrofuels.

Students of development studies and environmental economics will find that this book offers an interesting new perspective on the future of energy.

Francois Houtart is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the UniversitÃ(c) Catholique de Louvain. He was chief editor of the journal Social Compass from 1960 to 1999, and the editor of Alternatives Sud from 1994 - 2007. His previous books include The Globalisation of Resistance (with Samir Amin, 2002) and The Peasant as Actor (1982). He was the joint winner of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize 2009 for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence.