A recent statement by Jean Ziegler, United Nations independent expert on right to food, has drawn the ire of the National Corn Growers Association. Ziegler has requested a halt to biofuels production for the next five years because he says use of food crops for fuel is a 'crime against humanity'.
"Genocide is crime against humanity. War crimes are a crime against humanity. Any act of persecution to a large scale of people is a crime against humanity. Finding solutions to a global energy problem while continuing to provide food to the world is not a crime against humanity," said NCGA CEO Rick Tolman.
The U.S. is harvesting a record 13.3 billion bushels of corn this year, a total that Tolman says is enough to meet global hunger and provide fuel.
"It is a travesty when an official makes public statements that are so irresponsible, so inaccurate and so inappropriately damning," he added. "The statements 'crime against humanity' and 'catastrophe of the massacre (by) hunger in the world' are not to be used lightly or in such an irresponsible manner. If this is an example of how Mr. Ziegler carries out his responsibilities, he should resign his post immediately. Hunger is not something to trifle with and those in positions of responsibility need to be accountable in their statements."
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