Across northern South America, the promise of agrofuels has been heralded as a key contribution to national energy transitions. Governments in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela have promoted biodiesel and ethanol production as steps toward decarbonization and energy independence. Yet a closer look reveals a troubling paradox: crops like oil palm and sugarcane, intended to fuel a “green” transition, have instead displaced food production and intensified social inequality. Different reports show that vast tracts of fertile land, once used for local food, are now dominated by monocultures for export and biofuel processing. Marco Pernavarre reports. Read More