The interplay between land availability, bioenergy production potential, rural development and food security, and the assessment of different bioenergy pathways present crucial areas for policy considerations, in particular for balancing trade-offs associated with bioenergy development.

A research team composed of experts from FAO, the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment – King Monkuts University of Technology Thonburi, the Office of Agricultural Economics, the Land Development Department, the Rural and Social Management Institute and Kasetsart University – has looked at how the government manages the pressures that the bioenergy sector will place on Thailand’s natural resources and agricultural markets, in order to assess the future sustainability of biofuels and bioenergy as alternative energy sources.

The investigation pertained largely to biofuels produced from key feedstocks –sugar cane [molasses], cassava and palm oil – and their potential effects on Thailand’s agricultural markets and broader stock of natural resources.

The analysis is underpinned by the Thai Government’s Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP), which outlines targets for biofuels development up to 2022 and a number of supporting initiatives. These targets will have an impact on Thailand’s future agricultural outlook and imply additional utilization of Thailand’s natural resources.

The research findings will be presented next week during a Policy Consultation organized by the German-funded FAO Bioenergy and Food Security Project.

Journalists are invited to attend a press conference at the Siam City Hotel, 477 Si Ayuthaya Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Kornkamol Room, on Tuesday 15 June from 12:15 to 12:30 hours – followed by lunch for one-on-one interviews.

Speakers at the press conference will be:

• Hiroyuki Konuma, Assistant Director-General and FAO Representative for Asia and the Pacific
• Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Deputy Secretary-General, Representative from NESDB
• Twarath Sutabutr, Deputy Director-Genera,l Representative from Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency

For more information on the press conference, contact Beau Damen, Bioenergy Officer - Forestry, email [email protected] or telephone +66 2 697 4313.