The Federal Environmental Minister of Germany, Steffi Lemke, recently announced that she will introduce a proposal to restrict the use of food to produce fuel.  She stated, “I would like us to increase the use of real biofuels from waste, from residues including cooking oil”.  She noted “Here we still have potential and opportunities to ensure that the greenhouse gas quota in transport can be met.  That is why we will introduce the legal basis for phasing out agrofuels from food and feed crops as soon as possible”. 

Germany has already banned the diversion of palm oil to produce biodiesel.  Adding to the comments delivered to an agricultural conference, she stated, “The weaknesses of the existing agriculture and food system have become more apparent than ever before, especially during droughts.”

The initiative addresses the wasteful conversion of food to fuel, benefitting farmers and producers of ethanol and biodiesel at the expense of all consumers.

The Cabinet of the Federal Republic is empowered to impose a cap on crop-based biofuels, but politically with a coalition government this step would require the backing of the majority of members of the Reichstag.