Biofuel industry says oil hike driving food prices

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Leaders of the biofuels industry are challenging critics who argue that converting food to fuel is driving up food prices, saying higher energy costs and other factors are more important.

"Energy is the blood of the world, so if oil goes up then other commodities follow," Claus Sauter, Chief Executive of German bioenergy firm Verbio said on Wednesday.

Brent and U.S. crude set new record highs on Wednesday, edging closer to $100 a barrel, bolstered by supply concerns and a weak dollar.

Industry executives at an ethanol conference in Amsterdam said higher energy prices were increasing transports costs and making agricultural tools reliant on fuel more expensive, thereby contributing to higher food costs.