MAJOR farmer and manufacturing bodies have joined forces to call for an immediate national mandate for ethanol and biodiesel to bolster fuel security.

The National Farmers’ Federation, GrainGrowers, Australian Sugar Manufacturers and Canegrowers have also urged the Australian Government to support regional jobs and unlock new value-adding opportunities for Australian agriculture.

They are also calling for a firm, escalating pathway to grow demand for Australian-made ethanol and biodiesel over time; and the inclusion of Australian-made ethanol and biodiesel as eligible low carbon fuels under the Federal Government’s Cleaner Fuels Program.

The four organisations – representing more than 150,000 Australian farming businesses and over 16 sugar manufacturing facilities – have warned the current fuel crisis has exposed the strategic vulnerability created by Australia’s over-reliance on imported fuel, and the failure to fully utilise Australian-made ethanol and biodiesel as practical, domestic fuel security solutions.

In a media release today they emphasised that domestically produced biofuels offer a practical, immediate pathway to reduce reliance on imported fuel while delivering economic benefits across rural and regional Australia.

The bodies believe a national mandate would create the demand signal needed to increase the use of existing domestic production, unlock new investment in regional manufacturing and provide Australian farmers and processors with a reliable pathway to turn crops and agricultural by-products into higher-value products here at home.

National Farmers’ Federation chief executive officer, Mike Guerin said the situation has shown how vulnerable Australia is to global shocks and how quickly disruptions to critical inputs can put food production and regional businesses at risk.

“Quite simply, we cannot afford to be in this position again.

“Farmers already supply products that power biofuel industries overseas, it’s only logical and smart to support a domestic industry,” he said.

“A strong domestic biofuels industry will have the added benefit of helping diversify market opportunities for pro-ducers, a key element of risk management.”

GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said GrainGrowers urges the government to bring forward demand-side mechanisms to ensure locally produced eth-anol can make its way into Australia’s fuel mix.

“Australian sorghum and wheat are both well placed to feed into domestic ethanol production.

“Using more ethanol is a huge opportunity, underpinning improved fuel security, boosting our regional economies, and improving our market diversity.”

Australian Sugar Manufacturers CEO Ash Salardini said ethanol is one of the only supply side solutions available to the government for the fuel crisis today, providing more petrol for Australian consumers as this crisis rolls on.

“In the long-term, we can expand our ethanol production to provide more than 3 billion litres of biofuels significantly contributing to Australia’s liquid fuel security.”

Canegrowers CEO Dan Galligan said after decades of advocacy, the time for action is now.

“The sugar cane crush is just around the corner, and as they do every year, cane growers across Queensland and NSW will harvest over 30 million tonnes of cane ready to supply sustainably produced sugar for both domestic and export markets – but at the same time, we could also do so much more with this valuable, renewable feed-stock.

“Ethanol made from Australian crops like sugarcane can replace a portion of imported petrol and provide a reliable domestic supply,” he said.

“Just as we see happening right around the world.

“An enforced ethanol mandate would build demand and therefore justify new investment in supply which would underpin new diversified revenue streams for our industry.”

Source: NFF