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The main challenge facing Asia region's energy sector is how to continue to provide sustainable services for economic growth without jeopardizing long-term prosperity. Some countries are now in the forefront of modernizing bioenergy, including efficient use of biomass for large-scale industrial heating, power generation, and co-generation. Efforts are also geared toward the commercialization of technologies. Issues on bioenergy and biofuel development are drawing much attention because of global concerns following high energy prices, environmental degradation, sustainability of current energy systems and the competition of food crops versus energy crops. A careful consideration and understanding of these and other factors and their linkages to bioenergy development must be carried out at all levels. Impact on food security is one of the core social factors to be considered in bioenergy development. Access to adequate and affordable energy is basic to guaranteeing the well-being and development of rural populations on a sustainable basis. The innovations and enhancement of energy-converting technologies have a stabilizing effect on the balance between food and energy security. In further promoting sustainable bioenergy development, there are several major areas that require particular attention: more aggressive technology transfer initiatives through information and communication campaigns; promoting second-generation biofuels, for providing a larger proportion of fuel supply sustainably, affordably, and with greater environmental benefits, by using biomass comprised of residual non-food parts of crops, as well as other non-food crops such as switch grass and jatropha.
Based on FFTC, 2009. Sustainable Utilization of Biomass and Other Organic Wastes As Renewable Energy Sources, www.agnet.org (24 December 2009). |
