烤肉店用玉米粒当燃料 顶尖玉米专家发声，“不赞同，很惋惜”

Core Viewpoint - The use of corn kernels as fuel by a barbecue restaurant in Yantai, Shandong, has sparked widespread public concern and debate regarding whether it constitutes a waste of food or a means to assist farmers in selling surplus corn [1] Group 1: Expert Opinions - Li Shaokun, a leading corn expert, expressed disapproval of using corn as fuel, emphasizing that food conservation is a societal consensus, especially given China's tight grain balance [2][4] - He highlighted that while corn is a staple food, approximately 60% is used for animal feed and 30% for industrial processing, with only about 7% for direct human consumption [2] - Despite a significant corn production of 294.92 million tons in 2024, there remains a need for imports, indicating that the supply is not sufficient to justify using corn as fuel [2] Group 2: Farmer Perspectives - Ma Zhongchen, a large-scale corn farmer, expressed frustration and disbelief at the practice of burning corn kernels, stating that farmers have no issues selling their corn due to government support policies [3] - He emphasized that the tradition of valuing food is deeply ingrained in agricultural practices, and the act of burning corn is seen as wasteful and unacceptable [3][4] - The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that farmers can sell their crops, reinforcing the importance of food security [3] Group 3: Broader Implications - The practice of using corn as fuel sends a negative message about food conservation, potentially undermining the societal consensus on valuing food resources [5] - Li Shaokun pointed out that while industrial uses of corn, such as ethanol production, are acceptable due to their higher value, directly burning corn kernels is inefficient and should not be encouraged [4][5] - The agricultural sector's investment in corn production involves significant resources, making the use of corn as fuel an inappropriate application of these resources [2][5]