MADRID, April 16: More than 200 participants from around the world are set to take part in a conference on the future of the biofuel sector here on Tuesday, which organisers say is one of the first in Europe. The two-day summit comes less than two months after the EU set a new target for its 27 member countries to replace 10 per cent of petrol and diesel with biofuels by 2010.

Researchers, government representatives and biofuel experts are scheduled to take part in the Madrid event, which has the backing of Spain's industry ministry and is organised by German consultant Survey Marketing and Consulting.

Europe is one of the world's top producers of biofuels, which can substitute fossil fuels and are seen as a way to cut emissions of greenhouse gases that are believed to contribute to global warming.—AFP