European Union sets aside more land for biofuel production
July 30, 2007
As part of an action plan to combat forecast oil shortages, the European Union says it will allow farmers to plant crops on land previously required to lay unused.
The European Union wants biofuels to account for 10 percent of the total of motor fuels in 2020, against an estimated 1.6 percent in 2006.
Currently, biodiesel represents around 80 percent of the total biofuel usage in Europe, however this is expected to even out as ‘flex-fuel’ cars become available.
Biodiesels, known also by the scientific name EMHV (methylic ester of vegetable oil), or diester, are extracted from colza, sun flower oil, soya and palm oils, and mixed with diesel fuels.
Under current EU regulations, approximately 7.4 million acres of farmland is mandated as fallow, however this would be reversed under the new rules.
Freeing this land up for cereal production could see up to 17 million tonnes of cereal crops extra each year, which could then be put into production for biofuel.