Farming leaders have criticised the UK Government for failing to clear the way for British petrol to include up to 10% crop-based ethanol.
They say such a move would help wheat growers while also boosting the country’s drive towards net zero carbon emissions.
While the UK’s current petrol mix is limited to the inclusion of just 5% bioethanol, the NFU in England and Wales wants the government to introduce an E10 petrol mix, using 10% ethanol, made from wheat or sugar beet.
NFU Scotland (NFUS) also wants the Government to raise the inclusion cap to allow farmers to supply the raw material for E10 petrol, adding that Britain’s biofuels industry has suffered from EU and UK Government policies that have not been consistently supportive.
“The union supports the use of road biofuels, both for petrol and diesel vehicles,” said NFUS policy manager Peter Loggie.
“Scottish growers have supplied crops to bioethanol plants in England, and Scottish oilseed rape is used to produce biodiesel.
“These are important markets for growers and the by-product is a useful source of animal feed.”
NFU combinable crops board chairman Tom Bradshaw agreed and said: “Increasing the bioethanol content in fuel is a win-win for the environment, farmers and the economy.
“Yet, there has been a ridiculous amount of procrastination on renewable fuel policy and the biofuel industry has suffered as a result.”
Arguing that the whole farming industry is desperate to see the currently mothballed ethanol plants run in England by Vivergo and Ensus “back up and running” he said introducing E10 petrol would create a greater demand for bioethanol and a secure market for wheat growers.
He also said such action was becoming “even more important as our ability to export grain is threatened by no-deal”.