For Machado (2008) the debate is conditioned by groups opposed to the production of
biofuels, ranging from interests linked from oil to “World Bank, MF, United Nations and European
Union high officials, all of them pointing an accusing finger to the shifting of plantations to ethanol
production and hence to food inflation”. The author also mentions the action of lobbyists hired by
the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), which brings together powerful groups from the
food and beverage sector – Coca Cola, Nestl , Campbell, Sara Lee, Procter & Gamble and
Unilever.