CRITICISM of the European Union's 10% set aside programme was made by Lord Palmer of Manderston during last week's House of Lords debate on 'The EU Strategy on Biofuels; from field to fuel'.
A long-time exponent of biofuel technology Lord Palmer is keen to see more land used to cultivate crops to produce fuel but cites shortage of land to be cultivated for both food and fuel in Britain as his reason for attacking set aside regulations.
"The competition for land between food and fuel is a new phenomenon, which will be of increasing significance," warned Lord Palmer.
"This conflict has already surfaced in the United States where demand for corn for ethanol as a road fuel has driven prices substantially higher, much to the concern of food manufacturers and of course, as a result, their consumer customers.
"Compared with many other countries in the EU and indeed outside it, the United Kingdom is relatively short of land in relation to our population. More than in most developed countries, land is a scarce resource. We shall need it increasingly in the future for both food and fuel. Decreasing supplies of fossil fuels, global warming and rising sea levels are the reality that we have to face today.
"What is indisputable is that we shall need all the land we can get for both food and fuel security, and this is why the EU obligatory 10 per cent set aside is such a scandal.
"The thought that we will always be able to obtain affordable supplies of food, biofuel and fossil fuels is imprudent.
"Climate change is with us. It always has been and it always will be. The world is getting warmer, though there is legitimate reason to ask how much is due to natural solar activity and how much to man-made carbon dioxide. Is an increase of 10 per cent in CO2 levels from 300 parts per million to 330ppm really the only cause of current warming? What is certain is that while we cannot predict the future, we can and should plan for possible alternatives; hence the importance of biofuels, whether they be first or second generation."
"Biofuels have a legitimate role to play as alternatives to declining fossil fuels and, in the long term, to reducing atmospheric pollution and CO2 levels.In the context of this debate on the European strategy on biofuels I ask that the United Kingdom takes a lead on developing a coherent EU policy.
"Liquid biofuels have their part to play, along with other forms of sustainable energy, improved sea defences and worldwide changes to agriculture and marine husbandry. I hope the United Kingdom will lead on these important issues. We must not get left behind."
