Editorial

Abstract

The increasing concentration of greenhouse gas in theatmosphere forces to look for new uses of renewableenergy in various sectors of the economy. In the transportsector, the aim is to replace mineral fuels with biofuelsderived from biomass. Their production and useare encouraged by the Paris Agreement, the GlasgowClimate Pact and the recently adopted European GreenDeal. By 2030, 6% of fuel is expected to be replaced bybiofuels. Given that the development of conventionalfirst-generation biofuels from agricultural crops hasslowed down in recent years, the European Commissionencourages the introduction and expansion of theproduction of second and third generation biofuels usingcellulosic biomass and its waste or other materialsunfit for human consumption. The search for new rawmaterials is very important for the production of biodiesel,rapeseed currently being the main raw materialin Europe. As the volume of biofuel production increases,the area of crops grown for the production of biofuelsincreases, and the natural balance of ecosystems isthreatened (increasing land demand can be met by thedestruction of natural habitats). In order to increase cropyields, fertilisers are used for this purpose posing a riskof contamination of groundwater and surface waters. Inaddition, the production of biodiesel from vegetable oilcompetes with the food industry.