To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of crops has been used for biofuel production in the last three years. (231672)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government do not hold data on the percentage of crops used for biofuel production. Professor Gallagher, Chair of the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA), was asked to carry out a review of the wider effects of biofuel production earlier this year. This review refers to a 2008 study by CE Delft which estimated that around 1 per cent. of the total 1,500 million hectares currently estimated to be in use for cropland globally is being used for biofuel production¹.

Under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation the RFA collects information from biofuel suppliers about feedstocks and land use for biofuels supplied in the UK. It is expected that these data can contribute towards future estimates of crop use for biofuels.

¹ Source:

The Gallagher Review of the indirect effects of biofuels production: Page 30.