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FOR SOME time now, it has been obvious that biofuels will not provide the anticipated panacea to cope with rising carbon emissions and global warming. The amount of land that would have to be cultivated to provide the necessary raw materials to meet EU targets represents a major impediment. But, more importantly, the knock-on effect on world food prices makes the exercise morally and economically suspect. The production of alternative fuels should not be allowed to contribute to growing hunger in developing countries.

Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan has recognised this dichotomy and announced that Government plans for a nine-fold increase in biofuels usage by 2010 had been scrapped. He has also suggested to the EU Commission that its ambitious biofuel targets should be scaled back. That is a reasonable response to international concerns that some forms of biofuel production are not only horribly inefficient but are driving up food prices. Food riots around the globe in the first six months of this year are an indication of growing instability and public anger.