Europe’s starch industry fears nightmare scenario as molasses reclassified for biofuels

In Belgium, Euractiv reports that Europe’s starch industry, represented by Cofalec, has said the policy to make molasses an emission-free biofuel feedstock is a “nightmare” for beer and wine producers. The bloc’s sugarbeet industry has long sought the designation of molasses as a residue so that it could be used as an advanced biofuel feedstock and not fall under the 7% crop-based biofuel cap. The yeast industry relies on molasses as a feedstock and Cofalec says the redesignation of molasses could see Europe lose its spot as world’s largest yeast producer.