Biofuel crop study warns of impact

The environment could be threatened by the rush to grow crops for use in biofuels, conservation groups have warned.

They estimate that almost 2.5 million acres could be planted with crops for heat and power generation by 2020.

In a new report, Bioenergy in the UK, 11 environmental groups say that biofuel crops such as oil-seed rape, willow and miscanthus (elephant grass) could be sown widely but will provide little cover or food for wildlife.