Fernando Celis, an analyst at Mexico's National Committee for Coffee Organizations, said some have begun growing corn and other grains.

WSJ: Coffee Growers Forge a Futures Recovery

While corn prices certainly have some impact on biofuels, their impact is constantly overstated by sources like the WSJ.

FORBES: Khosla Speaks

Insofar as renewables have desirable environmental attributes (and some notably corn-based ethanol may not), the preferable approach is to price these attributes and let the market choose the technologies that produce the best balance between environmental and non-environmental considerations.

WSJ: The Experts: What Renewable Energy Source Has the Most Promise?

Such fibers are abundant and could supply 130 million gallons a year of ethanol that would replace gasoline, although it is still expensive when compared to corn-based ethanol and some early trials have ended in disappointment.

FORBES: Can Ethanol Cut Foreign Oil Imports?

Some of the products sold as honey have been bulked up by sugar, water and corn syrup.

FORBES: Today's Mystery: Europe's Bees Disappear Yet Honey Increases

Some have even calculated a ratio less than one, meaning it takes more energy to produce ethanol from corn than the energy content of the fuel.

FORBES: Ethanol Isn't Worth Costlier Corn Flakes And Tortillas