LONDON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Land used for purposes other than agriculture, such as biofuels, could take up an area roughly the size of Belgium, a European report found.
The European Union aims to rely on renewable resources for as much as 10 percent of its yearly energy needs by 2020. A report released Monday by the Institute for European Environmental Policy, however, finds that biofuel production could have secondary effects like increases in greenhouse gas emissions unless the sector is managed effectively.
The report finds that using biofuels could "lead to between 80.5 percent and 167 percent more greenhouse gas emissions than meeting the same need through fossil fuel use."
In terms of land use, the 24-page report concludes that conversion of land form crops used for food production to crops used for biofuels will consume a significant portion of European land.
"The additional demand for these fuels is anticipated to lead to between 4.1 (million) and 6.9 million hectares of indirect land use change," the report states.
An October report from the U.N. Environment Program warned of similar consequences, warning that bioenergy development can alter land use and result in a reduction in water supplies for purposes such as drinking and conventional agricultural uses.
