Germans give thumbs up to biofuels

More than two thirds of Germans view biofuels in a positive light, a new study suggests.

The representative survey, conducted by market survey analysts TNS Infratest, questioned more than 1,000 German residents and found that the majority of Germans appreciate biofuels as "being environmentally-friendly".

Around 39% base their positive attitude as biofuels being more "sustainable" than fossil fuels.

"More than two thirds of Germans approve of biofuels. Policy-makers can rely on this clear support from the general public and use biofuels for road transport to achieve the objectives of the Paris Climate Change Conference," said Elmar Baumann, manager of the German Biofuels Industry Association (VDB).

The survey also found that "one in four" took a sceptical view about biofuels, stating that crops should not be used for biofuels and be used for food.

Petra Sprick, manager of the German Association of the Oil Crushing Industry (OVID) in Germany, said: "Biofuels neither have significant effects on global agricultural prices, nor do they restrict the supply of food products.

"Despite the growing worldwide biofuel production, agricultural prices have been very low and stores full for a long time now. On the contrary, with the production of biodiesel from rapeseed, 60% goes to scrap. This high protein animal feed is an important component of the animal refinement process and contributes to the protection of global food supplies."

The representative survey by TNS Infratest was carried out on behalf of the following associations from the German biofuel sector: the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP), the German Biofuels Industry Association (VDB) and the German Association of the Oil Crushing Industry (OVID).