EU Parliament’s environment committee sets new limits on food-based biofuel production

The European Parliament’s environment committee voted in favor of limiting the share of food-based biofuel used in cars and trucks to 5.5% of total consumption. It said the change would address concerns that biofuels of this kind are raising food prices and may not be as environmentally beneficial as originally hoped.
Many European countries, including France, Germany, Portugal and Spain, already use food-based biofuels in well over 5% of their transportation sector, according to a commission report.
However, it means that to meet its 2020 mandate that 10% of Europe’s transport energy come from renewable sources, the EU would have to rely on electric cars biofuels made from non-food crops or so-called advanced biofuels, which still awaits commercial production at this point.
Electric vehicles will represent between 2% and 8% of total automobile sales in Europe over the coming decade, according to forecasts from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).
The biofuels legislation now goes to the European Parliament for a vote in September. If approved, it will then be negotiated with the European Council — composed of leaders from EU countries — before it is formally adopted.