The EU Commission has presented a proposal designed to encourage

biofuel that contributes to “major reductions in emissions” and that

does not compete with food production. Only 5 percent of biofuel based

on food crops will be permitted to be included in the climate targets

for the transport sector up to 2020, the Commission proposes.

Gustav Melin, CEO at the Swedish Bioenergy Association, Svebio, tells

the Nordic Paper Journal that the proposal will not lead to emission

reductions. Quite the contrary!

“It rests on poor foundations and would sharply reduce the development

of biofuels, thereby leading to higher consumption of gasoline and

diesel.”

However, the aim of the proposal is to stimulate the development of biofuel from non-food crops?

“In the spring, the EU Agricultural Directive made a proposal

concerning 7 percent “green” fallow in an effort to favor environmental

measures on arable land. One of the reasons for the proposal is that we

have too much land devoted to meeting current food requirements. In

other words, it is erroneous to claim that cultivation for bio-energy

purposes leads to food shortages.

“We grow the food that somebody wishes to buy. Unfortunately, those

who are starving have no money to cover their demand for food. In other

words, there’s no problem in growing more food to meet a greater demand

for food,” adds Gustaf.

“If biofuel is to assist us in our efforts to counter climate change,

we must use biofuel that really is sustainable long-term. We must

invest in biofuel that really reduces emissions and does not compete

with food. Needless to say, this does not entail a stop for the first

biofuel generation, but we want to send a clear signal that future

biofuel must be advanced biofuel. Anything else is unsustainable,”

comments the Climate Commissioner.