Use of corn as fuel growing

Almost 30 per cent of US grain production gets used for fuel, rather than food or feed.

This is because the use of corn for ethanol has been growing. And, unlike the 1980s and 1990s, this is no longer because of a low base.

Around 119 million tonnes of corn were used for fuel in 2010 (36 per cent of prior year production) - up 200 per cent since 2005. Corn output has doubled over the past 30 years. So even after hiving off a large chunk for fuel, the US has 50 per cent more corn for food and feed, in absolute terms.

But production of other grains has fallen 25 per cent. And population and income have risen, both in and outside the US.