Nicholson says Govt and EU must help Farmers seize the potential that Biofuels offer
UUP MEP Jim Nicholson has said today that the European Commission and the Northern Ireland Assembly must help farmers seize the potential that biofuels offer by making more funding available for research and development into the use of biomass and bio fuels as an alternative energy policy.
Mr Nicholson said that in an increasingly competitive marketplace farmers in Northern Ireland could find many benefits from looking at alternative uses of land and create new business opportunities in crop production for biofuels.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“Countries across Europe which have made significant steps in developing renewable energy have done so because of substantial government investment in research and development. If we are to unlock the potential of renewable energy in Northern Ireland, especially in bio fuels and biomass then a future executive must consider making additional funding for R & D in this area.
“The announcement this week that Virgin Atlantic plans to power the first commercial aircraft with biofuels by 2008 highlights the potential the fledgling biofuels industry has. If Northern Ireland were to get it right now and create the right conditions for producers then there is no limit to what farmers in Northern Ireland could achieve. In the right conditions they could market leaders.
“One way of helping to create that positive environment is to look again at EU policy on set – aside, which currently takes 10% of cereal land out of production, when in actual fact it could be used for producing biofuels.
“We must all focus on how we equip farmers in Northern Ireland to meet the challenges posed by an ever changing marketplace and ensure that the development of biofuels is cost effective for producers and consumers.”