Biofuel industries pleased by U.N. summit resolution

Biofuel industry leaders welcomed a cautious declaration on crop-based fuels, issued on Thursday at a global food summit that featured a fiery debate over the merits of increasing biofuel production.

The U.S. Renewable Fuels Association, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, and the European Bioethanol Fuel Association said they welcomed the “thoughtful approach” that world leaders took in wrapping up a United Nations summit in Rome this week focusing on the global food crisis.
“We welcome today’s UN FAO proposal to undertake further study of biofuels in agriculture. We are confident it will underscore the valuable contribution biofuels can make to ease the energy and agriculture challenges confronting all nations,” they said in a statement.

Under pressure from Washington, the summit declaration referred to both the “challenges and opportunities” that biofuels present.

Reuters