Food and Fuel? Exploring the Role of the Common Agricultural Policy in Promoting Energy Crops

Identifying the critical factors for the promotion of energy crops within EU-15, this thesis focuses on identifying the various measures under Common Agricultural Policy for the promotion of dedicated energy crops. The main critical factors relate to energy crops identified are: o Land Availability o Perceptual challenges o Ecological issues o Resource Competition, and o Policy development The findings show that for the promotion of energy crops there are no drastic changes required in existing Common Agricultural Policy. Some of the measure identified here already exists, but not for energy crops. The need is to make these measures available for energy crops with the required modifications, in addition to other supplementary support measures. Further, it was realised that there is a need of harmonisation between energy and agricultural policy