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All petrol and diesel which is sold at UK pumps after 15th April 2008 now has to include at least 2.5% biofuels. Biofuel, made from renewable crops such as sugar cane or maize, has been added to fuel sold around the country. Motorists should notice no difference and no modifications are required to cars or vans. The amount of biofuel will rise to 5% by 2010. The Government says that the move will make cars and vans more environmentally friendly. But some scientists and green groups say biofuels contribute more greenhouse gases than they save. In theory, the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) reduces climate change emissions from transport, but some critics say the biofuels' carbon benefits may be outweighed by negative effects from their productions. For example Oxfam says millions of indigenous people faced clearance from their land to make way for biofuel plantations such as palm oil. Oxfam is also concerned that the switch to energy crops from food production - including a large-scale drive in the US to produce bioethanol from maize - is contributing to rising food prices.
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