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The decisive vote by a European Union (EU) committee to increase the bloc's ambition to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in transport, leaving member states free to use crop-based biofuels in their transport energy mix , was well received by trade associations representing EU biofuels, partners in the human and animal food chain.
Adopted by a vote of 54 in favor, 14 against and six abstentions, the decision by the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) committee on July 13 largely maintains the framework for crop-based biofuels as suggested by the European Commission ( EC), with a maximum crop limit established for final transport energy consumption in 2020 in each member state, allowing +1% of flexibility with a maximum of 7%.
A joint statement welcoming the change was released by: COCERAL, which represents trade in cereals, oilseeds, legumes, olive oil, oils and fats, animal feed and agro-supply; Copa and Cogeca, which represents European farmers and agro-cooperatives; the European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the European biodiesel industry; the European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE), which represents European ethanol producers; FARM Europe, a think tank that aims to promote rural economies; FEDIOL, which represents the European vegetable oil and protein meal industry; and FEFAC, which represents the European compound feed and premix industry.
“ITRE members have signaled that sustainably produced biofuels play an important role in decarbonizing transport – today and tomorrow. This is certainly an improvement over the misguided approach to agriculture adopted by the ENVI committee, which would severely reduce the limit on crop-based biofuels and create a gap in the transportation energy mix that would have to be filled by imported fossil fuels,” said the joint statement.
Following the ITRE decision, the European Parliament will decide on the EU's final position in September.
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“With so much at stake in the issues of increasing both the EU's energy and autonomy in relation to animal feed and food, as highlighted in the EU Council statement, it is clear that Parliament needs to recognize the potential of sustainable crop-based biofuels as an important component of the EU's renewable energy policy and a key supplier of EU protein-rich co-products for use in animal feed until 2030 and beyond,” the joint statement said.
The associations called on the EU to “recognize and fully maximize” the potential of certified biofuels based on sustainable crops to achieve new EU policy priorities and targets for food and feed and energy security, while also realizing its climate ambitions.
“Our sectors are at the crossroads of moving towards climate-neutral food and feed production, fossil fuel replacement and European energy independence, saving GHG emissions and the domestic bioeconomy. At the same time, decision-makers must recognize synergies – between food, feed and energy value chains in the EU,” the statement reads.
Per: Oils & Fats International (OFI)
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