India eyes higher ethanol blends to cut oil imports but risks food and emissions tradeoffs

A fuel shift could tug on both crops and carbon

Facing heightened concerns over oil imports amid the US Israel conflict, India is weighing a stronger push toward higher ethanol blends to reduce foreign dependency. But the move isn’t cost free: scaling ethanol can raise ecological questions and stress food-linked resources. Policymakers must balance energy security with sustainability and affordability before expanding blends further.