We all agree that an increase in use of biofuels for climate's sake has to come with the guarantee that the upstream process is sustainable. In that sense, the report adds little that we didn’t already know. The governments of the UK, The Netherlands, Germany and the European Commission all are intensively working out their demands and criteria for the sustainable production of biofuels. But neither of these draft policies goes far enough.

The production of crops for biofuels in developing countries can be a tricky issue. For example: even if energy crops are guaranteed to be produced on the right kinds of soil, there is no guarantee that food production will not be displaced on peat grounds, former rain forest areas and similarly sensitive soils.

In my view, the production of biofuels is a matter of international development cooperation, as currently are all climate related issues. How can the richer countries in the world cooperate with the poorer parts so to benefit the climate and sustainable development? The suggestion of the Minnesota University researchers to reward land owners for good carbon management is why it made the GreenPrices headlines.

It is not hard to imagine that a land owner in a developing country wants to maximise his profits. At the moment, these profits come from the yield of crops, be it for food, feed or energy. If we ever want this land owner to maximise the carbon management of his land, there must be a reward for that.

With the carbon rewards, Minnesota University launched an interesting idea that needs more elaboration. But it's worth the effort to investigate if there are any international (maybe UN?) mechanisms that are fit to reward land owners showing responsibility towards our climate.

Rolf de Vos
Editor in chief
GreenPrices
r.devos@greenprices.com