Government Industry Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops

HL Deb 06 November 2002 vol 640 c113WA

Lord Desai

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress the Government Industry Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops has made. [HL6361]

Lord Whitty:

Over the past year the forum has met six times and has been working on a number of studies of areas of potential development in the non-food crops sector. Examples include biopackaging, the use of natural fibres in composite materials, biosolvents and biolubricants. The forum has also considered generic issues which affect this sector. The forum published its first annual report in August 2002, which details its work and sets out its first series of recommendations to government. We are placing copies of the report in the Libraries of both Houses.