BRITAIN’S farmers should switch from growing food to providing the next generation of eco-friendly energy, according to Tony Blair’s new countryside czar.

Stuart Burgess, who formally takes up his position as Blair’s rural advocate this week, believes the countryside should be used to grow “biofuels”.

He is urging the government to hand some of the funds earmarked for tackling climate change to the country’s farmers, whom he believes may hold the key to reducing carbon emissions.

Biofuels are made from crops including wheat or oilseed rape and can be used in place of conventional petrol or diesel.

In theory they are “carbon neutral” — absorbing as much carbon dioxide as they produce as a fuel. Some, however, claim their green credentials are overstated.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Burgess, chairman of the new Commission for Rural Communities, said: “Growing biofuels would give farmers a new impetus and role.

“If the government is serious about tackling climate change, they should use money and education to persuade farmers to switch.”

Britain has a target for 5% of all road fuel to be biofuel by 2010. At the moment farmers can qualify for grants to build small refineries and pay for new technology, and a recent survey found 16% of farmers were intending to switch.

However, concerns have been raised that the move will cause food prices to rise.

Burgess will discuss the plan at a meeting with Blair this month when they will also talk about the lack of affordable rural housing.

He believes councils should have the freedom to levy a council-tax surcharge on second-home owners — if the extra money raised is spent on affordable homes.

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