More on the hot topic of China halting Ethanol expansion due to soaring grain prices.
The Agriculture Ministry has stated that:
1. They are giving priority for food over biofuels.
2. They are encouraging farmers to grow sorghum, cassava and other non-grain crops on marginal land to supply biofuel processors.
3. Top priority is protecting arable land and ensuring adequate food supplies.
I was having a talk with a colleague at work regarding the Jatropha Boom in the Philippines that is now in effect. He said that “No Way” was he converting his Mango Plantation to start growing the physic nut for profit. He couldn’t see how the Philippine government was going to encourage people to start planting Jatropha given that the profit margins are low. To which I answered to him that that would be preposterous, given that he will earn more from his Mangoes than from Jatropha Curcas. The key there I told him was that as a businessman, he should find the most infertile area, buy it at the horrendously low price that the land is worth and start planting the Jatropha Curcas there. That way, he will earn from a plant that is accustomed to growing on marginal soil and is low maintenance.
Same goes with other feedstock, we shouldn’t sacrifice very fertile land to grow biofuels because it will jeopardize our food supply.
Original Article here
Category: Energy News, Bioethanol, Jatropha
