How a biofuels phase-out would hit Europe’s struggling farmers

POLITICO - Growers in the EU are helping meet climate and energy goals. Don’t abandon them now. By Mark Chesworth, managing director, Vivergo Fuels Biofuels are essential for meeting EU climate and energy goals by helping to decarbonize transport, but they are also of vital importance for Europe’s farmers. The production of biofuels contributes at least €6.6 billion in direct revenue per year to EU farmers. European ethanol — a low-carbon renewable fuel that can be mixed with petrol — is produced from plants containing sugar or starch such as feed-grade wheat, corn and sugar beets grown in Europe. As such, it is a key market for Europe’s farmers, many of whom rely on it as a primary source of income.