European biofuel policies may increase biological invasions: the risk of inertia

▶ Europe has agreed very ambitious targets in terms of biofuels, and the expansion of non-food non-feed crops will probably cause an increase in the introduction of invasive alien species into the region. ▶ This expected increase, together with the lack of a regional biosecurity policy and the limited level of screening and inspection protocols applied at the EU border, may cause a further increase in the negative effects biological invasions are causing to the ecosystems of Europe, as well as to the regional economy. ▶ European institutions are discussing the structure of a future regional policy on invasive alien species. It is crucial that the such a policy introduces an effective regulation of the introduction and use of biofuel crops, based on a 'white list' approach (only screened species allowed into the region), and including an early warning and rapid response system to combat the establishment of unwanted weedy plants, as well as new alien pests.