An increase in the production of biofuel could mean that 100 million people go hungry overseas, claims a new report.

The development charity Action Aid has criticised EU targets to make biofuel constitute ten per cent of transport fuel by 2020.

It argues that two-thirds of this biofuel will be imported from the developing world – leading to land conversion and substantial food shortages for populations.

However, the current goal is already a reduction from the 20 per cent initially proposed in 2007, which was withdrawn by the EU after widespread criticism from environmental bodies, development charities and scientists.

Action Aid also pointed out that research from the then UK Department of Trade & Industry actually showed that first generation transport biofuels “are the least cost-effective way to lower GHG emissions”.

Furthermore, the charity said that evidence pointed to the superior energy-efficiency of electric vehicles over traditional oil powered transport.

The report concluded that the EU needs to place a moratorium on the expansion of industrial biofuel production and investment, ensure that member states do not lock in industrial biofuels to their national action plans and make sure that there is separate action to ensure reduce transport and energy consumption.

Download Report Here