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EU Parliament Rejects Proposal to Reduce Use of High-Risk Biofuels

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The European Parliament on Wednesday rejected a proposal to gradually reduce the use of high indirect land-use change-risk biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels in meeting renewable energy targets.

High indirect land-use change-risk biofuels refers to biofuels associated with greater likelihood of indirect deforestation or land conversion, and thereby higher lifecycle emissions.

Welcoming the European Parliament's vote in favour of the resolution objecting to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2680, an industry coalition of European and international organisations on Thursday said the result was crucial for safeguarding the competitiveness and resilience of the European soy value chain.

The coalition represents farmers, cooperatives, seed companies, feed producers, processors, biodiesel producers and agricultural commodity traders.

"The delegated regulation would have classified soybean oil as a high indirect land-use change risk feedstock under the Renewable Energy Directive," according to a statement by industry body Euroseeds.

"The Parliament's decision helps preserve the conditions needed for continued investment and innovation across the sector while contributing to the EU's wider objectives on competitiveness and strategic autonomy."

The vote gives a certainty to industry stakeholders in soybean, which supports the EU's efforts to increase domestic protein production, strengthen food and feed security, and reduce reliance on imports, the statement added.

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