Biotechnology industry welcomes calls by EU
leaders to act now to deliver sustainable, secure and competitive
biofuels
Brussels, 8 March 2007: The European
biotech industry strongly supports EU initiatives to boost the use of
biofuels and calls on EU leaders to act now to deliver sustainable,
secure and competitive energy.
The biotech industry underlines the value of supporting not just the
current generation of biofuels but very importantly the so called second
generation biofuels (1). We believe there is ample evidence that the
available land needed to grow the current generation of biofuels is
adequate to meet today’s targets and still be in balance with food
needs. More advanced technologies producing second and subsequent
generation biofuels make use of the agricultural residues (biomass) left
over from current food crops as well as dedicated energy crops. This can
be converted into biofuels thanks to industrial biotechnologies.
Industrial biotech or the so called white biotech industry uses enzymes
that can breakdown the cellulosic matter of crops like corn and wheat
and convert the stalks, straw and corn stover with the help of
microorganisms into ethanol. In the longer term, dedicated energy crops
will be needed – developed using several innovative technologies like
modern breeding methods and biotechnology - to yield not only excellent
food and feed resources but also to maximize productivity of
agricultural land use, and thereby protecting natural areas from
development. Advanced technologies can ensure that crops and crop
residues are used to maximum effect to deliver highly efficient biofuels.
The European biotech industry is developing a policy document setting
out a uniquely European approach to growing our energy needs.
Dirk Carrez, Public Policy Director at EuropaBio – the EU association
for bioindustries - and Manager of its Biofuels Task Force stated: “The
challenges of CO2 emissions, climate change, increasing fuel import and
higher energy prices all send clear signals that using (transport) fuels
from fossil resources alone is untenable in the long term. Biofuels and
in particular second generation biofuels are a very attractive and
sustainable replacement.”
EuropaBio supports the various EU initiatives to boost the use of
biofuels and advocates a step by step approach from the current first
generation to more advanced biofuels. Specifically, the industry
- calls upon the EU Heads of State to adopt the principle of binding
targets for the blending of biofuels with gasoline and diesel,
- supports the change of the fuel standards to permit higher blends of
biofuel into gasoline and diesel,
- advocates performance based regulation that encourages efficient
delivery of biofuels which are most effective in reducing green house
gas emissions.
In order to harvest the full potential of biofuels, EuropaBio encourages
European legislators to follow the same line as the USA and China and
initiate policy measures which will allow second and subsequent
generation biofuels to become a viable, commercial and competitive
business within the next 4-6 years. EuropaBio also encourages European
legislators to establish a certification system for sustainable
production and use of biofuels and its respective crops which meets with
existing international standards and agreements. This will ensure that
biomass production always complies with good agricultural and labour
practices, and will establish a good balance between food and non-food
applications.
“Biotechnology’s clean, energy-efficient processes and innovative
bio-based products can create a sustainable industrial base to ensure
Europe’s future prosperity. But, without active political encouragement
and incentives, the full benefits will not be achieved, and other
trading partners will reap the rewards,” said Kirsten Birkegaard Staer,
Chair of EuropaBio’s Biofuels Task Force.
For more information, contact:
Dirk Carrez, EuropaBio; +32 2 739 1173;
d.carrez@europabio.org
Rebecca Weaver, EuropaBio; +32 2 739 1184;
r.weaver@europabio.org
Adeline Farrelly, EuropaBio Mobile: +32 475 93 17 24
a.farrelly@europabio.org
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
(1) Second generation biofuels include bioethanol which is produced from
lingo-cellulosic biomass (wood, straw and energy-plants) and biodiesel
which is produced from biomass gasification (bioconversion of biomass to
mixed alcohol fuels).
EuropaBio Fact Sheet on BioFuels -
http://www.europabio.org/documents/biofuel.pdf
European Biofuels Technology Platform:
http://www.biofuelstp.eu
More about the bio-based economy – click here
http://www.bio-economy.net
About Industrial Biotechnology
Industrial Biotechnology, in Europe also known as White Biotechnology,
is the modern use and application of biotechnology for the sustainable
processing and production of chemicals, materials and fuels.
Biotechnological processing uses enzymes, micro-organisms and plants to
make products in a wide range of industrial sectors including chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, food and feed, paper and pulp, textiles, energy,
materials and polymers. Mankind has already benefited from biotech for a
long time, but with the evolution of new technologies and a much deeper
understanding of cell metabolism and materials science, many new
opportunities have been identified, and others are continuing to emerge.
About EuropaBio
EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, has 78 direct
members operating Worldwide, 12 associate members and 5 bioregions as
well as 25 national biotechnology associations representing some 1800
small and medium sized enterprises involved in research and development,
testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products.
http://www.europabio.org
