British Millers Worried by Impact of Biofuel Subsidy

British millers are worried that government subsidies to promote biofuel intensifies competition between using grain for food or fuel and damages their industry.

“It’s crucial that we don’t create a monster which becomes dependent purely on subsidy,” an official of the National Association of British and Irish Millers (nabim), told a conference this week.
The millers’ association official warned that allocating more UK wheat to biofuel production might force an increase in imports not just of raw materials, but also finished or semi-finished goods.

“The big risk…is the importing of finished products. When you start bringing biscuit and bread in, you’re not only looking at the potential demise of the UK milling industry, but you’re potentially taking out the market permanently,” he warned. “The use of grain for fuel will have its place, but in the end it will be a small place.”

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