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Farmers should not grow crops to fuel aeroplane engines because of threats to UK food security, an industry boss has said.

Ministers are consulting on whether food producers should grow produce specifically to create Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

But Martin Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, said it would divert more arable land from feeding people which threatens UK food security and drives up prices for consumers.

He added: “We must question the use of agricultural land to grow biofuels for aeroplanes instead of crops to feed people. We are already using a significant portion of land to grow animal feed, crops for alcohol production, and plants for energy. Adding another demand into the mix would divert even more arable land from its primary function of feeding people, threatening UK food security and driving up prices for consumers.

“SAF would also hinder the transition to the kinds of farming practices we need to see adopted more widely.

“Wet, mild winters followed by long, hot, dry summers are making arable farming increasingly challenging, with a high risk of crop failure if farmers do not prioritise soil health and water management.”

SAF is an alternative to traditional fossil jet fuel that is manufactured from sustainable sources.

It can be made from several crops, mainly through oilseeds, sugar and starch crops, or plant biomass.

These are converted into jet fuel using specialised refining processes.

Critics have called SAF “greenwashing” because it still releases carbon dioxide and devours land.

Mr Lines added: “I am concerned that UK farmers may look at the scale and wealth of the aviation industry and see growing biofuel crops as a safe bet. In reality, this could lock them into long-term contracts which will limit the flexibility they will need to respond quickly to unexpected and severe events.

“At a time when yields are already fluctuating, and without a concerted effort to ensure all farmers have the climate resilience they need, committing to fuelling flights rather than feeding people strikes me as extremely risky, both for farm businesses and for policymakers concerned with food security.”

Decarbonising the transport sector is extremely difficult, with it being the country’s largest emitting sector.