Campaigners claim aviation biofuel plan is 'irresponsible'

AN AREA the size of the Highlands would be needed to grow sufficient bio crops to fuel European airlines, environmental campaigners have warned.

The European aviation industry, with support from the European Commission, is expected to announce plans to use two million tonnes of bio-kerosene a year by 2020.

Stan Blackley, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: "In a world where millions go hungry, it would be incredibly irresponsible to grow enormous amounts of new crops to fuel cheap flights and long-haul holidays for the richest in the world, rather than for food to feed the hungry.

"Biofuels exacerbate poverty and hunger, drive people from their traditional lands, cause massive deforestation and help to push up food prices."