Biofuels accounted for 4.5% in 2011 and the aim was to reach 10% by 2020, but this has now been cut to 5%.
There has been growing concern that biofuels push up food prices and are not eco-efficient. Fortunately, the Commission now takes far more account of this:
‘The Commission’s message for post-2020 is that our clear preference is biofuels from non-food feedstocks, like waste or agricultural residues such as straw. These new types of biofuels are not in competition with food, nor do they require additional land.’
Let’s hope a similar US policy change is not too far behind.
Richard Hall is chairman of Zenith International.
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