The European Parliament on Wednesday backed plans to cap the use of traditional biofuels to address concern over greenhouse gas emissions.

Parliament voted in favour of a text to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the increasing use of agricultural land for biofuel production.

MEPs said first-generation biofuels -- or from traditional sources -- should not exceed six percent of final energy consumption in transport by 2020, as opposed to the current 10 percent target.

This will mean a boost for advanced biofuels, sourced from seaweed or certain types of waste, which must represent at least 2.5 percent of energy consumption in transport by 2020, MEPs said.