Through a more balanced discussion of the use of the fuels the union is seeking to highlight the fact that misinformation on the costs and benefits of biofuel production is threatening the fight against climate change.  

This follows the publication of the Gallagher report, an independent review of the environmental and social impacts of biofuels, which found that the controversial fuels can drive up food prices, without having a significant impact on global warming. 

Despite these findings, NFU Scotland is claims that biofuel production in Scotland is environmentally sustainable and does not detract from the production of food.  It says production is essential to combat climate chance, tackle rising energy costs and secure a long term viable future for the agriculture industry. 

The union point to the example of oilseed rape which can be crushed to produce cooking oil while the waste products can be fed to livestock and finally, the used cooking oil and livestock tallow utilised to produce biofuel. 

Jim McLaren, NFU Scotland President, said:

“Climate change poses enormous challenges and the involvement of farmers in the production of biofuels can play an important role in tackling these challenges.

“Many farmers and processors have invested a great deal of time, money and environmental commitment into the production of biofuels and they must not be stopped in their tracks. The UK Government must continue its commitment to renewable targets rather than hide behind biofuels as an excuse for higher food prices.  

“The food versus fuel debate is far too simplistic.  The UK farming industry is more than capable of producing quality food and contributing to the fight against climate change by producing biofuels. There is no need to make a stark choice between the two.  We can see from the oilseed rape example that the cycle is far from simple and that we need to think beyond just the food versus fuel argument.

“It seems we have government policy in the UK and in Europe lurching from one policy to the next depending on the results of the latest opinion polls; most of which are based on a less than full picture of what is going on.  The reality is that there are sustainable and unsustainable ways of producing everything, biofuels included. To tar all types of production with the same brush is ludicrous. We have real win-win renewable projects in Scotland.  In Motherwell, for example, Argent is taking costly wastes such as tallow, mixing them with cooking oil and turning them into biodiesel.  That’s exactly the kind of work that government should be supporting.”

In response to the Gallagher report, the UK Government has said it will press ahead with biofuels but with a more gradual introduction and cautious approach.