Biofuel crops pose no threat to UK food production, according to the NFU.
The production of crops for environmentally friendly fuel creates a “win, win, win opportunity - for the climate, for farmers, and for the economy”, according to NFU vice president Paul Temple.
The NFU has calculated that around 900,000 hectares of land will be needed for an analysis that will be required to meet the government’s target of a five per cent inclusion of bioethanol and biodiesel in road transport fuel by 2010.
That corresponds almost exactly to the 375,000 ha of land that is being used for the production of feed wheat surplus to UK domestic requirements and the 559,000 ha of mandatory set aside.
These areas could be used to produce oilseed rape for biodiesel, according to the NFU.
The NFU paper ‘UK Biofuels - Land required to meet RTFO 2010’ argues that technological advances in the production of biofuels will allow output to be stepped up without compromising food production capacity.
The organisation is calling for the government to extend the existing Road Traffic Fuel Obligation targets to match the EU target of 5.75 per cent by energy, which equals 7.5 to 8 per cent by volume.
Temple said: “It is quite clear from these figures there is more than sufficient spare capacity in British farming to meet the growing demand for biofuels without compromising food production.
“The biofuels market will mean that, overall, there is a tighter balance between supply and demand for grains and oilseeds and food processors, and others will no longer enjoy the luxury of being able to buy their royal materials at below the cost of production.”
Temple said a rise in farmgate prices should have very little impact at retail level.
“Against that, the biofuels market will mean that Britain’s farmers are making a really worthwhile contribution to the reduction in carbon emissions, as well as generating significant numbers of new jobs,” he added.
