The policy brief analyzes the current developments around the emerging U-turns on government support to biofuels internationally. Based on desk research as well as interviews with stakeholders, its seeks to provide guidance for biofuel policy reformers on good governance principles in view of pressures from different interest groups.

The brief’s key messages are universal, but may be of special relevance to policy-makers in the EU in light of the European Commission’s proposal of 17 October 2012 to limit the use of food-based biofuels to 5 per cent until 2020 in contributing to the 10 per cent target of renewable energy in transport.