BIOFUELS are fuel made from crops instead of oil. They are being promoted as a way to fuel our cars and reduce our dependence on petrol, which causes climate change when it is burned.

But are we being "bio-fooled" into believing they are a sensible solution to dwindling oil resources and climate change?

Far from providing a new diverse market for UK farmers, the 10 per cent EU target is likely be met by crops like palm oil, soya and sugar cane grown on what once was virgin rainforest.

It could even be grown on land currently used for food production in developing countries.

The recently published Government review into the effects of biofuels - the Gallagher review - has shown clearing the land needed to produce such an increase in fuel crops is likely to lead to a rise, rather than a reduction, in climate-changing emissions.

In September, London's MEPs will vote in the European Parliament on whether to increase the amount of biofuels for transport to 10 per cent by 2020.

I welcome the fact London MEP John Bowis has so far voted to lower the target, but am disappointed he has not yet voted to scrap it.

I hope Mr Bowis will now push his colleagues on the environment committee to go further and ditch all targets to increase biofuel production.

Finding enough land to grow even eight per cent of Europe's transport fuel would push food prices through the roof.

MEPs must change course on transport and scrap biofuel targets.

We need to find real solutions to reduce our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels - such as tougher standards on fuel efficiency in new vehicles and better public transport.

Ted Burke Greenwich and Lewisham Friends of the Earth