March 11, 2007
a. What are your experiences and observations with regards to bio-fuels in your countries?
The governments of Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia have started to promote planting of crops which can be used for bio-fuels. In Korea, hydro-powered energy has long been used.
b. What are your comments and concerns on the whole bio fuel industry?
1. There may be not enough lands to produce crops for bio-fuels. If we use lands currently planted to food crops, this may lead to food insecurity.
2. There is lack of scientific researches to back up observations on positive and negative effects of bio-fuel industry , especially to the environment.
3. There are doubts whether the planting of crops for bio fuels will benefit the farmers; there have been experiences that farmers in plantations for bio-fuel crops are receiving little income from this activity.
c. What are your recommendations to ASEAN and to our national governments with regards to the bio-fuel issue?
1. Pursue other alternative energy like solar and wind energy .
2. ASEAN governments should strike a balance between food securty and renewable energy
– too much concentration on bio fuel industry will hurt farming production. We must be interested in our long term perspective on food security.
3. Governments shold provide adequate information to the public.
4. Governments should conduct research on the possible impacts of bio-fuels.
5. If ever, the promotion and production of bio-fuels should be done through farmers’ cooperatives/organizations
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