British agriculture represents around 8% of all UK transport greenhouse gas emissions, derived from on-road and off-road farm transport and other fossil fuel driven machinery. Modern agriculture is heavily reliant on mechanisation – and increasingly on automated transport systems. The study examines the industry’s traditional reliance on diesel – mainly in the form of subsidised ‘red’ diesel – as the dominant fuel source, accounting for nearly 15% of all UK diesel sales.
A number of industry-led initiatives are underway to investigate viable alternatives to this widespread use of diesel. Clearly, the transition to non-fossil transport fuels on farms and the associated availability of low emission tractors and other vehicles will not be straightforward and will take time as well as investment. A series of workshops led by the NFU in 2019 highlighted the challenges posed in terms of moving to alternative fuels and, in particular, to battery powered options. This formed the basis of a consultation response to the UK Government’s proposal to bring forward the end of the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles from 2040 to 2030.
The NFU concluded that, ‘We do not think it is currently possible to set a date for phasing out new sales of diesel tractors and other non-road agricultural machinery and [the NFU] calls upon government to encourage and accelerate the demonstration and introduction of ultra-low emission electric and hybrid tractors. In the meantime, we strongly support a continued role for high biofuel blends like E10 ethanol and B20 biodiesel.’