The chairman of the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) has defended biofuels, insisting they have a role to play in the renewable fuels mix

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today, Professor Ed Gallagher said the UK is already successfully sourcing "good" biofuels.

He also said he had met with the National Farmers' Union to see if rotational crops can be used for biofuel purposes.

"There are new processes for wheat to produce biofuels which will produce co-products which will actually reduce land usage rather than cause it to be displaced," he stated.

There are a number of areas and examples where the UK can show the rest of the world how to produce sustainable biofuels, he added.

Professor Gallagher went on to praise the cooperation between farmers, industry, green groups and government on this kind of issue.

A report by Envirolink Northwest has highlighted five areas in the northwest where biofuels could be produced. These are Birkenhead, Ellesmere Port, Heysham, Barrow-in-Furness and Workington.

The south of the region is probably the best location for a large plant that produces an output of 100,000 tonnes a year, while the north of the region is probably the most suitable location for a small to medium-sized plant, according to the study.