It should come as no surprise that if government perverts the market in such a way as to artificially inflate the cost of food when used as fuel, that less food would actually be used as food.

Well, it's come as a surprise to some.

Many specialists in food policy consider government mandates for biofuels to be ill advised, agreeing that the diversion of crops like corn into fuel production has contributed to the higher prices. But other factors have played big roles, including droughts that have limited output and rapid global economic growth that has created higher demand for food.

That growth, much faster over the last four years than the historical norm, is lifting millions of people out of destitution and giving them access to better diets. But farmers are having trouble keeping up with the surge in demand.

All of which also calls into question a farm policy that pays "farmers" not to grow crops.

Starvation in Africa and Haiti brought to you by the same people who sponsored the long-running "No DDT for You; Malaria's all you get" policy.