Beschreibung:
Twenty case studies were undertaken to analyse trends in investments and financing in the production of biofuel and of the feedstocks used for biofuel (palm oil, soybeans, sugarcane and jatropha) in forest-rich countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. With the exception of jatropha, only a small proportion of the total investment in feedstocks production is used for biofuel production, about 18% for sugarcane, 16% for soybeans and 4% for palm oil. We estimated that in the 20 countries under scrutiny, about US$ 2.02.7 billion was invested in growing feedstocks for biofuel in the period 2000-2009. Investments in producing biofuel from these feedstocks, in these same 20 countries, are estimated at US$ 5.76.7 billion during the same period. Nevertheless, significant investments have been made in producing biofuels only in Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and Colombia, and they are not important in other countries researched. The investments in feedstocks and biofuel production were financed by private entrepreneurs, as well as by public financiers (e.g. government subsidies, multilateral development loans and grants, and investments by state-owned companies) and by private financial institutions (e.g. banks, asset managers, pension funds). A large number of private financial institutions were found to be involved, most of which are located outside the country where the investment took place. Dozens of public financiersmany of which are foreignplay a significant role.