The UK biofuels industry has joined forces with opponents of Europe’s push for a rapid increase in the use of fuels from plants who fear the practice could cause more environmental harm than good.

It has written to Andris Piebalgs, the energy commissioner, who reiterated on Monday that he would not scrap a target to ensure that 10 per cent of transport fuel is derived from plants by 2020, despite reservations among his colleagues. Stavros Dimas, the environment commissioner, said in an interview broadcast on Monday that the use of crops for fuel could increase food prices and deforestation, while Louis Michel, development commissioner, wanted to ensure they brought benefits to developing countries.