Well said Jonathan Spencer. Bio diesel and ethanol are an absolute joke and what makes matters worse is that here in the UK we are building plants to tun wheat in to ethanol.

Small problem folks.

Energy in:energy out

Wheat = 1:1 at best
Corn = 1:4 at best
Sugar cane = 1:8.

Why are we not encouraging the third world countries that are capable of producing prodigious amounts of cane to do so and let the rest of this laughable technology quietly disappear?

Gilchro1, Perth, Scotland

Fuel cannot come from the food we grow as it will take over the fundemental purpose of growing crops. This is to feed us. Not least that the extraction of the oils is so energy inefficient - what's the point? I'm sorry, but nucleur energy is the ONLY way forward.

Buster, Birmingham,

Unfortunately, we in the USA don't have the best and brightest running our Gubm'nt.They pass mandates that are popular with people that educated beyond their intelligence, Greens and liberals, that can't think beyond what sounds good and never look of what the consequences may be and an equally stupid media that can't even find the dots to connect!
Here, as in the UK everyone is jumping on the wind energy bandwagon, but if you stop and think for a minute.. when the wind stops, then what? You need the same amount of power that as demand requires. The utilities need the same amount for "back up". It's like having a tow truck following you down the roadway! And they can't even figure this out... that wind is a DUPLICATION of power... and they can't even figure that we dupes are paying twice for the same energy!

Alexandra Weit, Palm Springs, CA, USA

It's not the fault of the Green Lobby, it's the fault of central banks inflating their money supplies and speculators looking for a good short-term investment.

Rick, Manchester,

at last farmers around the world, in particular america, are able to earn a decent profit from the soil. hopefully the profits will go into the local rural economies and make them viable once again and the EU can give up their subsidies of farmers that completely distorts world food prices.

with the massive increase in world population the only way for food prices is up no matter what is bring grown/used for fuel production.

derek, Sydney, AUS

The subject of bio-fuels is difficult to fully comprehend and the debates will rumble on for many years. The use of non arable land and crops for bio fuel (diesel) has some justification. The use of prime cereal crop for bio fuel (ethanol) is making the global situation worse.

However, I agree with Jonathan that the emphasis for the UK should be on securing energy supplies by maximising the use of indigenenous supplies (dare i say coal and clean coal technology) combined with improved energy efficiency practices.

Sean Langstone, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan

To blame the green lobby for a situation where goverment thinks using food stock as a source of material is ill informed at best.
There is a vast amount of organic produce that is not edible that could be used and has so far not been mainly as corn and soya appeared to be the quick and easy solutions.

The implementation by the companies is flawed, not the concept.

Richard, London, England

I sincerely hope the Green Lobby is proud of its achievements.
What results they have achieved with this total pre-occupation with carbon emissions - food shortages and record prices, rape of land resources, increased nuclear build, disgraceful 'trading schemes' and 'carbon offsetting' that are nothing short of mega-buck con tricks, and huge on-costs to the economy through non-hypothecated tax increases. And what has been achieved? Nothing. Notice as well that it is no longer referred to as 'Man Made Global Warming' - it's now 'Climate Change'.
The sooner the government moves the debate to the real issue that WILL receive consensus across the board, the better. That issue is the very pressing need for a real energy policy that concentrates on energy efficiency, conservation and security of supply through indigenous energy production. What does our Enery Minister do exactly except help DEFRA produce irritating adverts about carbon footprints?

Jonathan Spencer, London, England