Scottish agriculture and rural areas have much to gain from Scottish Executive support for renewable energy projects, according to NFU Scotland. NFUS has made the comments in response to the Scottish Executive's consultation on the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) (ROS) Order. The ROS is the vehicle for the Scottish Executive's development of renewable sources of energy, both as part of its commitment to tackle climate change and to support sustainable economic development.

NFUS has welcomed proposals to further involve agriculture in renewables projects.

In particular, NFUS has highlighted the following projects as beneficial to the agriculture industry:

• The use of Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) in electricity and heat generation and use of animal fats (tallow) for biodiesel production. This would help mitigate the impact on the livestock sector of charges for waste disposal.

• Development of biomass for electricity and heat generation as it may create demand for energy crops and fuel woods from farm forestry.

• Methane recovery from digested slurry currently being investigated through pilot projects on farms. This has potential for electricity generation.

George Lawrie, Chairman of the NFUS Environment and Land Use Committee, said:

"NFUS recommends that renewables projects with an agricultural component should be supported given the spin-off benefits for rural areas. We have already seen the potential benefits of processing animal fats for biodiesel production with the development of the Argent Energy plant in Motherwell. Likewise, the creation of biomass plants to process woody material, the manufacture of crop derived roadfuels and methane recovery all help to address climate change and create opportunities for farmers to develop their businesses at the same time.

"Development projects in all these technologies should therefore be supported and we would encourage the Executive to aid investment costs in these areas.

"NFUS believes that targets on the inclusion of biofuels in the total fuel market should be implemented in line with the European Commission's proposals and their production supported to the same extent as in other EU countries."