Biofuels offer diversity

BIOFUELS offer the best prospects for farmers to diversify out of traditional enterprises in the future, according to a Teagasc researcher.

Mr Bernard Rice of the Teagasc Research Centre at Oak Park, Carlow, told the IFA Biofuels Conference in Kildare yesterday that farmers are willing and able to produce biofuel crops provided it makes economic sense.

“Excise relief for transport biofuels is an essential part of economic viability,” he said.

“The proposed excise relief for 8 million litres of transport biofuels, while very welcome, will only achieve about one-tenth of the European Commission’s initial 2% substitution target.

“An expanded scheme is needed to allow the industry to develop quickly to its full potential,” he said.