At top executive from oil giant Shell, the world’s top maker of biofuels, has said he considers using food crops to make biofuels “morally inappropriate” as long as there are people in the world who are starving.

Eric G Holthusen, Fuels Technology Manager Asia/Pacific, said the company’s research unit, Shell Global Solutions, has developed alternative fuels from renewable resources that use wood chips and plant waste rather than food crops “If we have the choice today, then we will not use” food crops, he said.

“We think morally it is inappropriate because what we are doing here is using food and turning it into fuel. If you look at Africa, there are still countries that have a lack of food, people are starving, and because we are more wealthy we use food and turn it into fuel. This is not what we would like to see. But sometimes economics force you to do it.”

What does everything think?