EFRA report on biofuels echoes NFU sentiment
19/09/06

The Government is not doing enough to promote the development and use of bioenergy according to a report published today.

The Environment Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee says the UK is lagging behind other countries in the promotion and use of energy produced from plants and waste – an opinion shared by the NFU.

Peter Kendall, NFU president, said: “Farmers are keen to play their part to find ways to combat the causes of climate change and providing sources of renewable energy is one solution we’ve been championing for some time. What we need is long term, strong targets from Government which we haven’t yet seen. Meanwhile, other European countries stride ahead with the technology, infrastructure and the consumer demand.

“In the UK we have more than enough land to produce food and bioenergy and enhance wildlife habitats. We have a real chance to produce greener fuel and heat solutions domestically – which will make us not only more environmentally friendly, but also provide alternative sources of energy at a time when the world energy market is becoming increasingly fraught.

“The EFRA report states that the UK has a disjointed, piecemeal approach and lacks ambition in this area. It calls for a minister to be put in charge of the brief. The NFU has been calling for a Minister for Climate Change for some time, to take this issue in hand, manage cross-departmental involvement and drive the policy forward.”

Gore's film returns to farming roots to tackle climate change
Negotiations conclude on new sugar beet contract
Biofuel crops pose no threat to UK food production