Agrofuels

Synopsis

Filmmakers Loren and Matt Feinstein provide an eye-opening account of the downside of alternative, food-based fuel sources. Delving deep into the world of agrofuels and monocrops, they explore how the increasingly common practice of diverting food crops to the industrial production of cellulose-based fuels is devastating indigenous communities, undermining small farmers, and endangering the environment across Latin America. Turning to the promise of the future, they also show how grassroots communities are developing better, cleaner alternatives. A good resource for courses dealing with the global economy, development issues, and the environment.

AgroFuels is a half-hour in depth educational supplement to the full-length feature Cicolvida.

More info at: http://ciclovida.org

Release Date:2012

Duration:28 min

ISBN:1-932869-66-2

Subtitles:English

Trailers

Watch the trailer

Filmmaker Credits

A Film by

The Feinstein Brothers

Co-Production

Ivania Cavalcante de Alencar

Co-Production

Manoel Inácio do Nascimento

Edited by

Matt Feinstein, Loren Feinstein & Andrew Killoy

Camera

Loren Feinstein, Matt Feinstein, Dania Flores, Manoel Inácio do Nascimento, Ivania Cavalcante de Alencar & Jorge Ota

Original Soundtrack by

Loren Feinstein

Narrated by

Rainbow Underhill

Post-Production & Motion Graphics

Andrew Killoy

Additional Post-Production

Ben Stumpf

Additional Photography

Philipe Ribeiro, National Culture Collective of MST, Audiovisual Brigade of Via Campesina Brazil, Sergio Castillo, Sandino Cavalcante, Blair Neal, The Paradigm Shift Project & Rainforest Action Network

Illustration by

Peter Hazen

Featuring Interviews with

Winti, Rachel Smolker, Manoel Inácio do Nascimento, Ismael Oliveira, Brian Tokar, Ivania Cavalcante de Alencar, Tom Goldtooth, Dara Bayer, Michelle Mascarenhas-Swan, Thiago Roniere, Anne Petermann, Christiane Campos, Praiá, Andrea Samulon, Patrick Keaney & Jason Corwin

Resources: Downloads and Related Links

Downloads:

Transcript

Praise

"A wake-up call. Documents with great clarity the destruction of farming soils, forests, common lands and livelihoods by first and second-generation agrofuels in the name of energy security."

- Phillip McMichael
Professor of Sociology, Cornell University

"A good introduction to some of the devastating consequences to local communities and the environment caused by large-scale soy and sugar cane production in Brazil. Helps us ask important questions about so-called 'green' energy."

- Ronit Ridberg
Food Systems Consultant

"Contrary to the promoted perception of biofuels, this film argues forcefully that they are not the solution to the world's energy problems and that they increase problems for the environment, rural inhabitants, and indigenous peoples... For those who are committed to 'biofuel,' this is an essential watch."

- Anthropology Review Database