UK ministers are reconsidering a ban on crop-based biofuels for aviation, weeks after civil servants visited major US producers. The policy shift follows a lobbying tour in America's Corn Belt, raising concerns that US commercial interests could influence Britain's environmental goals.

The UK initially excluded crop fuels from its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) quotas in 2024, citing land use and food production concerns. However, the government reopened the issue in December 2025, launching a call for evidence. Documents reveal UK officials visited ethanol plants and grain processors in Illinois and Iowa, including stops at POET, KAAPA, Elite Octane, Archer Daniels Midland, and Cargill.

Critics warn that including crop fuels would benefit US producers and undermine the UK's commitment to waste-based and synthetic e-fuels, potentially jeopardizing **£219 million