IDFA joined a coalition of 12 food groups in expressing support for bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that will protect food makers and consumers from unnecessary food price increases. The bill would reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires the use of billions of gallons of corn-based ethanol. 

The vast amount of corn being diverted to fuel production by the standard has caused significant price spikes for corn, making dairy and other commodities more expensive.

The “Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act” was introduced by Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Steve Womack (R-AR). The bill would prohibit corn-based ethanol from being used to meet the Renewable Fuel Standard and would reduce the total size of the standard by 42 percent over the next nine years. 

Under current law, the RFS requires the blending of 13 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol, a volume that consumes approximately 40 percent of the nation’s corn supply.   

In addition, the bill would limit the standard to using only renewable biomass and other advanced biofuels.

For more information, contact Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice president of legislative and economic affairs, at jslominski@idfa.org.