Global biofuel production grew 20% in 2007. The U.S. and Brazil now produce 95% of the world's ethanol, and Germany leads in biodiesel production.
The European commission is backing away from its insistence on imposing a compulsory 10% quota of biofuels in all petrol and diesel by 2020, a central plank of its programme to lead the world in combating climate change.
Biofuels has not initiated any private discussions.