Will biodiesel spell the end of German lager? The Scala Consultants is running a debate later this month entitled: Will the enivronment force us to think the unthinkable? I have asked around as to what constitutes the unthinkable and nobody came close to suggesting an end to beer. I suspect it will be a very short debate if they do.

The other premium food group screaming against biodiesel is of course the Spreads and Margarines Association (SMA) for whom rape seed oil is a vital - no pun intended - ingredient. But let's face it, it's hard to get worked up about margarine. We may have been sad to give up butter but that pain is behind us.

What the SMA need to do is a little collaborative marketing and inform Euro MPs that they may have to wave goodbye to Becks and wheat beer... the environment doesn't stand a chance.