Europe calls for seaweed and food waste energy

The European Parliament is calling on energy producers to focus on the likes of seaweed and food waste as alternative sources of biofuels.

Yesterday, MEPs voted in favour of capping the use of traditional biofuels in a vote on draft legislation.

The majority of MEPs said that the production of traditional biofuels is causing social and environmental destruction in the developing world.

Dublin Labour MEP Emer Costello said that energy producers need to focus on developing less destructive biofuels from alternative sources.

"Some fo the areas that we're looking at is … issues like food waste, that could acvtually be sued as an alternative source," said ublin Labour MEP Emer Costello.

"Also, research has shown the seaweed could provide much biofuel, and that while the research and some of the work on this is at a very early stage, it's showing very promising signs.

"So there are ways that we can use alternative methods or second- or third- generation biofuels that will not have the same neagtive impact on the environment, on the developing world, and on pushing up food prices."