EU Might Be Considering Cutting Subsidies for Crop-Based Biofuel

Not very long ago, we reported on how US's National Cattlemen's Beef Association asked that high officials look into the possibility of rethinking current biofuel production standards so as to avoid a potential food crisis.

The main drive behind their request is fairly simple to understand: both the food industry and some branches of the biofuel industry are presently competing for various types of crops as raw materials.

Later one, this request was backed up by an UN leader, and by Nestlé's Chief, both of whom argued that the US National Cattlemen's Beef Association was right in claiming that biofuel production could eventually lead to a food crisis, seeing how global harvests had been seriously affected by harsh environmental conditions.

Recent news on this topic informs us that the European Union is now also looking into the possibility of cutting down on its biofuel production in order to provide the food industry with some much needed support.

Mongabay reports that one legislation project, which presently still finds itself in draft, states that, following the year 2020, the biofuel industry is to only be subsidized if it stands to lead to significant improvements being made in terms of cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.

Moreover, it needs to prove that no damage is done to the food industry, meaning that biofuels produced from crops otherwise used in food and feed will not benefit from financial support.

However, one need not worry with respect to how this will affect ongoing efforts to safeguard the environment, as rumor has it that biofuels made from waste or algae will still be produced and made to fill in whatever “voids” pop-up after the crop-based biofuel industry is cut short in its development.

Hopefully, more news on this topic will soon be made available to the general public, as biofuel production is of utmost importance if human society is to continue pushing for sustainable development.