European Debate on Biofuels Continue

In the recently concluded Biofuels Market Congress in Brussels, many stakeholders voiced out their concerns and opinions on the European Union's (EU) Renewable Energy Policies. Speaking at the opening session, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel reaffirmed the EU's dedication to biofuels stating that the policy has a very solid justification for the real world, and she believes in its sustainability. These statements were issued amidst the activists raising concerns about rising food prices, competition between food and fuel, and biofuels that do not yield sufficient energy to justify their production.   

In addition,  Lord Ronald Oxburgh, chairman of biodiesel manufacturer D1 Oils and former chairman of Shell is optimistic that, "in the future there will be a crop that we grow for food, for raw materials for fuels together in different proportions, depending on the plants to meet local demands."

In related developments, a currently ongoing EU summit, heads of state and government had raised the possibility of reconsidering the biofuels target by the year 2020, whereby EU Member States are bound to use biofuels for 10% of their fuel for transport. 

Details of the media release can be viewed at: http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=29238