The role of networking activities for biofuels value chain promotion agreements at European level

The objective of the paper is to analyse biofuel stakeholders’ expectations and the role of networking in the promotion of biodiesel value chains at European level. European Commission has set aggressive targets for saving of energy consumption and GHG emission and promotion of renewables and biofuels. The current paper analyses the main legislative, economic and political promoting and limiting factors for biofuel chain development at the regional and international level as identified during networking events set up in five European countries. Main influencing factors: involvement of public agencies for intersectoral value chain development promotion, importance of contract agreements for business processes reorganization and informative nets creation, introduction of training, quality premium, profit sharing with farmers, enhanced managerial approach of farmers, rapid growth of cereal prices and lack of arable land which are likely to compromise the challenge of biofuels to meet the EC target, the lack of a clear and long lasting normative frame