As global food prices for meats, vegetables, and bread surge worldwide, Republican lawmakers in Congress are calling for a change in the Renewable Fuels Standard passed in December.  The bill called for a fivefold boost in biofuel use by 2022, and mandates to use ethanol blended from corn as a gasoline additive.

Ethanol, once considered by many to be the perfect alternative to gasoline, has received significant opposition lately as prices for commodities, including corn and soybeans, have risen to record highs.  Members of Congress are considering revising the Renewable Fuels Standard to eliminate ethanol mandates, though others caution that revising a carefully crafted and debated bill will cause even more unintended consequences than the original.