The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (EU), adopted a strategy on Wednesday designed to promote use of biofuels of agricultural origin in the 25-nation bloc.

The strategy would be focusing on such priorities as stimulating demand for biofuels, capturing environmental benefits, developing production and distribution of biofuels, extending supplies of feedstock and enhancing trade opportunities.

However, while emphasizing the importance of mitigating the environmental impact of producing biofuels, the strategy falls short of explicitly calling for compulsory certification of all biofuels used in the EU, criticized by some organizations.

"Already millions of hectares of tropical forest have been cleared to make way for plantations of palm oil, soy and sugar - all major sources for biofuels - leading to huge biodiversity losses," the World Wide Fund for Nature warns.

The conservation group argues that "as well as polluting soils and waters, the use of GMOs and pesticides on the crops also threatens biodiversity, namely through polluting soil and water".

The EU production of biofuels weighed in at 2.4 million tons in 2004, approximately 0.8 percent of EU petrol and diesel consumption.

Source: Xinhua