Scotland's future's green, but is it golden?

THE golden yellow carpet which stretches across large swathes of Scotland's farmland every spring ought to be a symbol of the vibrant future for the agricultural community.

Oil-seed rape is a key part of the biofuels revolution sweeping the globe, providing oil that can be easily turned into biodiesel. Within a few short years, enthusiasts believe, Scottish farmers will be growing millions of gallons of fuel to power the nation's cars, transforming the rural industry.

However, the reality may prove otherwise. Agriculture groups and environmental bodies, along with rapeseed farmers, have told The Scotsman they believe the idea of a national biodiesel industry is a pipe dream, a supposedly green initiative which may wreak untold ecological damage.

On paper, success looks assured. Next year, a vast, £90 million biofuel production plant will become fully operational in Grangemouth. Capable of producing about 100,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year, the INEOS Enterprises facility, backed by £9 million in regional assistance from the Scottish Executive, will meet more a third of the UK's biodiesel needs.

With farming in transition - the number of livestock kept on farms declined last year - farmers have hoped they will be able to give over ever increasing acreage to oil-seed rape. Their harvest - some 120,000 tonnes last year - would be crushed to remove its oil.

But obstacles lie ahead.

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