The government has agreed to a recalculation of official figures on oilseed rape emissions following extensive industry lobbying.  

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Although data initially showed that, in certain areas of the country, oilseed rape production carried too high an environmental cost to be acceptable to biofuel producers, following a review by the Department for Transport and levy-funded cereal group HGCA, the government accepted that crops could be submitted as feedstocks, contributing to mandatory national renewable energy targets.

Official figures on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels of oilseed rape, showed emissions to be too high in DfT's NUTS2 report.

The NFU welcomed the reversal on Friday (15 March), claiming that DfT's previous report had not fully accounted for "improving agricultural practices and yield improvements," which would have subjected growers in some areas to financial penalties and extra paperwork.