IN PARTNERSHIP with the energy company Greenergy, local farmer-controlled business Renewable Energy from Agriculture is to grow the first carbon-certified oilseed rape in the region.

The crop will be used in the production of Greenergy Biodiesel, the UK's first low emission biodiesel blended fuel, available at filling stations for UK motorists.

GlobalDiesel is a mix of processed rapeseed oil (5pc) and ULSD - ultra low sulphur diesel - (95pc) and delivers a guaranteed whole-of-life carbon di-oxide emissions reduction of 5pc. In addition, GlobalDiesel delivers improved fuel consumption and up to 28pc less particulate emissions than ULSD.

The 14-hectare crop near Sedgefield is expected to yield about 55 tonnes of rapeseed when harvested next summer. This is equivalent to almost 30,000 litres of rapeseed oil which, when converted into pure biodiesel and then blended with ULSD, can supply 560,000 litres of GlobalDiesel.

The carbon-certification process behind the emissions guarantee for Greenergy GlobalDiesel takes into account all CO2 emissions associated with every stage of the fuel's production, including planting, growing, harvesting, transport and processing of the rapeseed, through to tailpipe emissions.

For further details on the crop contact REFA on 01740 623300 or www.refa.org.uk.

* The NFU this week pledged to keep up the pressure on the Government to introduce tax relief which would make the fledging industry for growing "green" fuel viable.

Ben Gill, president, said that, despite the disappointment of the Chancellor's pre-Budget statement, the NFU would press ahead with its campaign.

The NFU wanted 30p a litre tax relief on bio-diesel and bio-ethanol in the pre-Budget statement. Instead the Chancellor merely brought bio-ethanol in line with bio-diesel by reducing duty by 20ppl.

The NFU briefed peers and MPs ahead of two recent debates, to keep the issue on the political agenda ahead of the Budget in March. It has also written to John Healey, Economic Secretary at the Treasury, calling for an early meeting on the issues in light of the pre-Budget statement.

Mr Gill said: "No one should imagine that we have given up on this crucial issue. We believe the development of bio-fuels and other non-food uses will be central to the future of farming."