Are biofuels competing with food production?
French biofuel production does not compete with food uses. Thanks to the vegetable oils and proteins sector, France meets 100% of its citizens’ needs for edible oils and more than 50% of livestock protein needs (compared with around 30% on average in the rest of Europe).
Rapeseed is a prime example: its processing simultaneously produces oil and proteins (oilseed meals) for animal feed. As a result, 71% of the seed is used for food, and only 29% for non-food outlets such as biodiesel.
This valorization of seeds ensures that farmland remains primarily dedicated to feeding people, while also using part of the harvest to decarbonize transport—reducing our energy dependence and climate impact, while maintaining strong, local food production.
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71%
of the seed is used for food
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100%
of its french citizens’ needs for edible oils are covered
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50%
of french livestock protein needs