This is understandable given that one result of the high demand for biofuels is the destruction of rain forests in order to grow Palm oil or soya for biodiesel. The release of CO2 from burning the forest added to the fuel inputs needed to grow and transport the biofuel mean that it will be many years, if ever, before there are any gains. This type of production is clearly of no benifit to the planet.
However, it would be a great shame if governments stopped encouraging all biofuel production as if it is done sensibly, biofuels have a crucial part to play in future food production. Targets and incentives are needed to speed up the developement of cellulosic ethanol which can deliver greenhouse gas reductions of 85% compared to conventional fuels.
Cellulosic ethanol can be made from straw and other crop residues as well as from woodland waste and dedicated crops such as miscanthus. This must be the way foreward, but experts warn that first generation biofuels must develop the market until these second generation fuels come along.
It ought to be possible to devise a system of auditing the energy balance of present biofuels so that only those with a positive balance can be used to meet government targets.
