Tequila endangered by switch to biofuels

[n2doc]

Tequila endangered by switch to biofuels
Last Updated: 3:01pm BST 27/08/2008

Tequila could become a thing of the past as Mexico appears to be turning its back on the cactus-like plant from which the country's national tipple is made, in favour of more profitable crops.

America's increasing demand for ethanol has caused global commodity prices to spiral upwards and encouraged farmers of blue agave, the origin of tequila, to switch to more profitable cash crops, such as wheat and corn.

Corn currently sells for a record 18 cents a pound as US motorists turn towards biofuels in an attempt to avoid the soaring cost of petrol - now $2 a gallon.

In contrast, agave, which was worth approximately 80 cents a pound six years ago, now sells for less than two cents.

As a result, farmers have taken the difficult decision to let their agave crops burn to clear the way for more lucrative crops.

One farmer, Miguel Ramirez, told USA Today: "I'm going to get out of agave completely. Corn is where the money is now."

more:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/08/27/eatequila127.xml

[liberal N proud]

1. You can either get drunk or drive your car

But you can't get drunk and drive your car.

[Teaser]

2. GODDAMMIT!!!

.

[sharp_stick]

3. Nooooooooooooo!!

This can not be allowed to happen, we must drink more tequila to drive up the price of Agave. I'm on my way to the liquor store, gotta call my wife to cool down the lime juice.

[mike_c]

4. now that's going too damned far!

Converting food crops to ethanol so fat-assed rich western consumers can keep their car culture is one thing, but civilization as we know it will likely collapse without decent tequila!

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Those worms on the bottom of the bottle will play havoc with the fuel lines.

[Kali]

6. um somebody isn't taking into account the differences in water needs

for these two crops, nevermind soils!

[thunder rising]

7. that's exactly my thinking too ... water? soil?

[Javaman]

8. screw that!!! now perhaps people will get off their sober asses and

do something!!!

:rofl: