IFA wants pilot project status for Irish bio-fuel industries
The main farming organisation wants the excise duty relief on bio-fuels to go towards supporting those produced in Ireland.
The Irish Farmers Association said it would make no sense to replace reliance on imported fossil fuels with imported bio-fuels to meet Ireland's transport fuel substitution targets.
It's produced a report on alternative uses for land following the demise of the sugar beet industry.
IFA President Padraig Walshe says the government should give pilot project status to Irish bio-fuel industries.
“The minister did announce last week money for renewable energy businesses to be set up.”
He added: “We think that money should be used to set up Irish businesses rather than being used for an imported product and to encourage process and business to be set up here for various alternative crops that can be used to substitute our 90% dependence on imported energy into this country.”
