Farming groups defend biofuels

Apr 15 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

FARMING groups have defended British-grown biofuels in the face of environmental protests.

Conservationists staged a protest in London yesterday ahead of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) – which requires all petrol and diesel sold on the forecourt to consist of 2.5% biofuels – coming into force today.

The idea behind the obligation is to reduce the climate change emissions from transport – which produces more than a quarter of overall greenhouse gases in the UK – through the use of renewables in place of fossil fuels.

Protesters said yesterday that forest clearance, use of fertilisers and the energy used to convert crops to fuel could all make the overall emissions of biofuels higher than their oil or diesel equivalents.

But farming leaders said different biofuel production systems had hugely different impacts on the environment, greenhouse gas emissions and whether they compete for land with food.

Sustainable biofuels grown in Britain from feed wheat that would otherwise be exported, or oilseed rape on set-aside land, could be produced in large enough quantities to meet the RTFO, National Farmers’ Union president Peter Kendall said.

Mr Kendall said British-grown and processed biofuels could achieve savings of up to 64% in greenhouse gases.

He also said global food prices were increasing because of a rising population and demand for food, rather than biofuel production. He said: “There is a world of difference between biofuels grown on cleared rain-forest and then transported half way across the globe and those grown sustainably here in Britain.

“People can use biofuels produced to the British model with a clear conscience, knowing they are doing their bit for the environment, and I urge them to do so.”

The conservationists’ study, A Cool Approach to Biofuels, urges the Government to switch from investment in the current set of biofuels to development of “second generation” renewable transport fuels which can be made from waste crops and are much more energy efficient.

It also calls for a moratorium on the RTFO and no further targets in Europe – where a 10% goal for biofuel use by 2020 has been proposed – and policies to cut emissions from transport in sustainable ways.

Graham Wynne, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “Some biofuel production will cause habitat loss, displace food production and emit more greenhouse gases that are being saved.”

Research from the British Market Research Bureau and consultancy BPRI found that less than half of the public (48%) believe biofuels are a long term alternative to conventional fuels.

But a separate poll for the Renewable Energy Association (REA) found that less than a quarter (24%) were worried about the introduction of biofuels. Clare Wenner, head of transport biofuels at the REA, said research showed bioethanol could deliver greenhouse gas savings of 65% and biodiesel could produce cuts of 53% compared to conventional fossil fuels.

Emily Beament