Biofuels and Food Security in Japan and Other Asian Countries

Abstract

The Japanese government is promoting a biofuel program to deal with environmental and energy security problems and to promote rural development. At present, verification tests and large-scale projects for biofuel production have been launched, but current agricultural products based on biofuel production have experienced some problems in the way of high production costs, securing feedstock, and food availability. The most crucial task for the Japanese biofuel program is establishing sustainable criteria for biofuels, which determine the limitations of GHG emissions, and pay close attention to bio-diversity, food availability, and social consequences. To realize these goals, further research and dialog with related countries and regions will be required. The governments of Asian countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, and South Korea) are promoting biofuel programs to address energy security and environmental problems, and to contribute to agriculture and rural development. Current biofuel production has experienced some problems, because of difficulties securing feedstock and high production costs in these countries. The expansion of biofuel production and utilization has a limitation in these Asian countries. Although the governments of these countries set biofuel production and utilization targets and mandates, these countries are struggling to meet these targets and mandates. These countries will have to modify these ambitious targets and mandates in the near future because the expansion of biofuel production and utilization has a limitation in these countries.