Agrofuels : big profits, ruined lives and ecological destruction / François Houtart ; translated by Victoria Bawtree ; with the collaboration of Bosco Bashangwa Mpozi, Beinvenue Lutumba Bukassa and Geoffrey Geuens ; foreword by Walden Bello.

Translated from French.

Includes glossary.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Energy and development -- The twin crises : energy and climate -- The neoliberal discourse on climate change -- Agrofuels and agroenergy -- Ethanol production -- Agrodiesel production -- The collateral effects of agrofuels -- The socio-economic dimensions of agroenergy -- Alternative ways of solving the climate and energy crises and the role of agrofuels.

"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."--Publisher website.