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| Food inflation blamed on biofuels | Food inflation blamed on biofuels |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The increased use of biofuels has driven up global food prices, UK government research is expected to say. | The increased use of biofuels has driven up global food prices, UK government research is expected to say. |
| The Gallagher report will argue that farmers have devoted too much land to crops used for energy, throwing doubt on EU targets to increase biofuel use. | The Gallagher report will argue that farmers have devoted too much land to crops used for energy, throwing doubt on EU targets to increase biofuel use. |
| The findings come as the European Parliament is to vote on whether its goal should be scrapped. | The findings come as the European Parliament is to vote on whether its goal should be scrapped. |
| Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is to make a House of Commons statement on the report at about 1630 BST. | Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is to make a House of Commons statement on the report at about 1630 BST. |
| 'Not sustainable' | 'Not sustainable' |
| A panel of government experts, chaired by Professor Ed Gallagher, head of the Renewable Fuels Agency, has looked at the impact of biofuels on land use. | A panel of government experts, chaired by Professor Ed Gallagher, head of the Renewable Fuels Agency, has looked at the impact of biofuels on land use. |
| The report is thought unlikely to go as far as a damning study from the World Bank last week, which blamed biofuels for a 75% rise in food prices. | The report is thought unlikely to go as far as a damning study from the World Bank last week, which blamed biofuels for a 75% rise in food prices. |
| The EU has a target to source 10% of transport fuel from biofuels by 2020, but this could be overturned by the European Parliament. | The EU has a target to source 10% of transport fuel from biofuels by 2020, but this could be overturned by the European Parliament. |
| Claude Turmes, energy spokesman for the Green Party in the European Parliament, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "This 10% agro-fuel target is just not sustainable. | Claude Turmes, energy spokesman for the Green Party in the European Parliament, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "This 10% agro-fuel target is just not sustainable. |
| "We can't produce this massive amount of agro-fuels, because it will have an impact on the world food prices and it is not the most efficient way to reduce CO2." | "We can't produce this massive amount of agro-fuels, because it will have an impact on the world food prices and it is not the most efficient way to reduce CO2." |
| But Michael Mann, European Commission spokesman on agriculture, said: "We cannot possibly link the European Union's biofuels policies to food prices... | But Michael Mann, European Commission spokesman on agriculture, said: "We cannot possibly link the European Union's biofuels policies to food prices... |
| "The main reasons, frankly, is that there's a massive increase [in demand for food], particularly from the main developing economies and there have been terrible harvests." | "The main reasons, frankly, is that there's a massive increase [in demand for food], particularly from the main developing economies and there have been terrible harvests." |
| Mark Avery, conservation director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: "The review admits we are hurtling towards environmental disaster and should be used to put the brakes on biofuels. | |
| "If it is not, the destruction of rainforest and grasslands will continue to enable biofuel production. And with that will come huge carbon emissions and widespread losses of wildlife." | |
| A separate government study suggests the UK wastes four million tonnes of food every year, adding £420 to a family's shopping bills. | A separate government study suggests the UK wastes four million tonnes of food every year, adding £420 to a family's shopping bills. |
| Mr Brown is attending the G8 summit in Japan, where issues including global economic turbulence, record oil prices, climate change and international aid are expected to be debated | Mr Brown is attending the G8 summit in Japan, where issues including global economic turbulence, record oil prices, climate change and international aid are expected to be debated |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "What we are trying to get across is there is this complex relationship between what we buy, the amount, waste, the impact on climate change and the impact on our health." | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "What we are trying to get across is there is this complex relationship between what we buy, the amount, waste, the impact on climate change and the impact on our health." |