Nearly $5 billion in US government subsidies has been pumped into ethanol subsidies. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), with head offices in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is urging Tom Vilsack, Obama's nomination for US Agriculture Secretary, to stop increasing mandatory fuel consumption levels for biofules and take into account environmental effects when developing ethanol policy.

"As prices for agricultural commodities come down from the record highs set earlier in 2008 this year, Tom Vilsack will come under intense pressure to cushion farmers with various subsidies, including those for biofuels," said Mark Halle, Director of IISD Europe. "However, we urge the new U.S. Agriculture Secretary to resist special interest lobbying, and promote policies based on their economic and environmental merits."

"We hope IISD will share their ethanol analysis with the Manitoba government," said Gaile Whelan Enns of Manitoba Wildlands.