Nov 18 2013
A mere tinkering with the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the corn ethanol mandate by the Environmental Protection Agency will not help relieve the impacts of artificially-high food prices, according to a grassroots food coalition.
The group, “Feed Food Fairness: Take RFS Off the Menu,” is comprised of poultry and livestock producers, small business chain restaurateurs and other members of America’s food chain.
A core concern of the Feed Food Fairness coalition is that the RFS should not be viewed solely from an energy and environment perspective because the law also raises food commodity prices, which creates unnecessary and damaging burdens on farmers, small businesses in the food chain and, ultimately, consumers.
Statements from Feed Food Fairness coalition members provide additional perspectives:
“The baking industry recognizes EPA’s proposal lowering the corn-based ethanol mandate. However, this does not go far enough. Corn-based ethanol is a factor that has led to decreased wheat acreage in the US over the past 30 years and tighter food supplies around the world.”
Robb MacKie, President & CEO, American Bakers Association
“The EPA decision to reduce the corn ethanol mandate is long overdue. While this is a positive step, the fact remains the RFS is a flawed policy that requires Congressional action. Even with a record corn crop expected this year, the damaging ripple effect of this defective policy has been moving through the meat and poultry complex for the past several years. The time for Congressional action is now.”
Mark Dopp, SVP of Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel, American Meat Institute
“Why must restaurant operators and their customers, the American consumer, continue to pay higher food prices due to the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard? It is time to end the misguided policy of using corn for fuel.”
Mark Allen, President, International Foodservice Distributors Association
“While we are thankful and support the action EPA is taking today, its timid adjustment reconfirms the program is broken beyond repair. This is a good first step, but ultimately, Congress must act. Congressional action to repeal the RFS remains the most viable pathway to allowing all users of corn to have equal standing in the marketplace.”
Michael J. Brown, President, National Chicken Council
“The Renewable Fuel Standard has wrought havoc on food retailers, restaurants, franchisees and operators, as well as food producers, and suppliers. However, the ultimate losers are consumers. Study after study has shown that the corn ethanol mandate has artificially driven up commodity costs by billions of dollars annually, and with it, consumer prices. Today’s proposal by the EPA reaffirms our steadfast belief that Congress needs to repeal the RFS mandate once and for all.”
Rob Green, Executive Director, National Council of Chain Restaurants
Feed Food Fairness: Take RFS Off the Menu is steadfast in its opposition to the RFS. Only the U.S. Congress, which created this flawed policy, can solve the problem and as such, the Feed Food Fairness coalition calls on Congress to repeal the RFS.
“Feed Food Fairness: Take RFS Off the Menu” is a grassroots campaign focused on repealing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the corn ethanol mandate. Coalition members have joined with Congressional allies to expose the harmful and costly economic effects of the RFS on small business chain restaurant owners and operators, American consumers and diners.