Defra reveals spending on biofuels research
Wed 14 May 2008
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The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has spent between £1m and £2m a year on biofuels research since 2006, including about £900,000 a year in the last two years on research into genetic improvement and selection of biomass crops such as willow and miscanthus. Defra says the aim has been to underpin R&D efforts for both 'second generation' biofuels and solid biomass for energy. The Department has also supported industry research efforts.
In an answer to a parliamentary question from Conservative MP Greg Knight, the Environment minister Phil Woolas said that relevant work is being funded jointly with industry to breed wheat and oilseed rape varieties that require reduced fertiliser inputs (£331,000 in 2008-09 and approximately £814,000 in 2006-07 and 2007-08 combined).
The organisations funded by Defra to carry out biofuels work since 2006 included Aberystwyth University (IBERS), Rothamsted Research, AEA Technology, the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), Warwick HRI and ADAS.
Defra is also funding two desk studies into Brazilian biofuels and their sustainability through the International Sustainable Development Fund . One is by the university of Campinas, into bioethanol, and the other is by the university of Sao Paulo, into biodiesel. The studies are worth around £50,000 each.
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