Presentation by Navin Sharma, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), presented at the "IFAD-ICRAF Biofuel Program" side event which took place along the sidelines of the thirty-eighth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 38) in Bonn, Germany June 5, 2013.

1. Sustainable Development of
Alternative Biofuel Crops
IFAD & ICRAF Collaborative Programme
Navin Sharma
5 June 2013

2.  “Biofuel technologies must become more efficient in
terms of net lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
reductions and be socially and environmentally
sustainable.
 Most first-generation biofuels, with the exception of
sugarcane ethanol, will likely have a limited role in the
future transport fuel mix”
Sustainable Production of SECOND -Generation Biofuels: Potential and perspectives in
major economies and developing countries February 2010
Future Biofuels

3. Biofuels, Climate Change & Food Security
• To restrict global temperature increase to 2 degrees
– By 2030, Biofuels to provide 9% of total transport fuel
demand (126 EJ): current level 2.7% of the world's fuels for
road transport (World Energy Outlook 2009; IEA 2009)
• Area under Biofuel crops - 1% (14 million Ha) of arable
land, will occupy 2.5 – 3.8% (35-54 Million Ha) by 2030
(IEA 2006)
– By 2050 , 50% reduction in CO2 emissions, biofuels to
provide 26% of total transport fuel (Blue map Scenario of Energy Technology Perspective,
IEA 2008)
• Will need 1.5 Billion Ha - marginal land,
abandoned land will need to be used
Can this be achieved with current biofuel crops or need to change the focus
of biofuels for food security by local energy provisions?

4. Current Status of Biofuels
• Development of Biofuel sector in various countries is influenced by the
mandates and subsidies provided
• Considerable debate around biofuels on food vs. fuel and its impacts on
food security
– source of current biofuel are edible crops ( first generation biofuel crops)
• Can have positive effects on food security - provide the new sources of
income / employment, and also provide alternative sources of energy for
rural communities
• Many developing countries (e.g. India) have now developed policies that
specifically targets Biofuels from non-food / multiple use crops and use of
marginal land.
Food Security & Environment

5. What are the Real Issues?
• The Crops
– Exiting Approach of use of food crops in traditional
agricultural land (Food vs Fuel, LUC)
• Area under Biofuel crops?
– Enough land area apparently available, apart from
traditional agricultural land (PLUC).
• Sustainability
– Need to identify suitable crops that can be used in
sustainable production of biofuels
– Use of perennial trees and smart agroforestry system

6. How is this Programme Different?
o Global Programme – will cover Asia, Africa and Latin America in phased
manner. Region specific strategy will be developed and executed through
strong partnerships.
o Development of alternate and non-food crop or cropping system
(Agroforestry) – use of marginal land / land not utilised in agriculture
o Combinations of crops for sustainable production throughout the year
 based on agroclimatic / ecosystem
o Covers the whole value chain : Landscape / System Approach
6
RiD Challenges
• Selection of Appropriate Species (Ecosystem based)
• Quality planting material
• Short rotation crops
• Remunerative to small farmers

7. Agroforestry : Use of Perennials
• Less demanding in terms of inputs
• Reduce erosion and improve soil properties
• More energy per unit of land from these crops
• Enough ‘croppable’ land available but not utilised by farmers in their field
(e.g. bund and farm roads): Potential for Agroforestry

8. 8
38
March 2009 Vienna, Austria BIOFUELS
and FOOD SECURITY Implications of
an accelerate biofuels production
Summary of the OFID study prepared
by IIASA
Potential areas : Asia, Africa and Latin America

9. Karnataka : Perennial Species
Meghalaya: Pongamia
Tamil Nadu : Nipa palm +
Salicornia
Jatropha - Gliciridia
TBD
EMBRAPA
Oilpalm, Macauba
Road Map
India (Karnataka, Meghalaya), Sri Lanka and Brazil 9
Nipa palm

10. 10
Programme – Phase 1
Karnataka - India
Linkages with Karnataka
- Intensify current agroforestry systems
- Identify the gaps in the programme
- Develop a pilot / Centre of Excellence
- GBEP’s sustainability criteria test
Policies
Appropriate
Crops
Cooperative
collection
model
Biofuel Park
End Use
(Demand)
Work Plan
Value Chain Analysis
& Interventions
Improved Market
Participation
Livelihood Impacts
Agri Business
Development

11. o In India the average cow / buffalo per farmer is 1.5 (average yield 10 litres milk per animal)
o GCMMF has 2.79M members producing 8.4 million litre milk = 2.2 Billion $ turnover
o Similarity of number of trees a farmer has in his back yard / field, non perishable produce,
- Strong Private Partner Required to make it success, Short Rotation Crops, Higher Yield per day
Dairy Model for Biofuel?

12. 12
Programme Phase 2
South-South Cooperation with Brazil
 Learn from the Brazilian experience with biodiesel:
o Main challenge: overcome the excessive
• dependence on soy beans and castor and
• dependence on weather (rainfall).
 Partner with Embrapa on the development of alternate feedstocks:
• Agroforestry model on Jatropha, Macaúba Palm and others.
• Agro-ecological zoning in process.
• Develop a model for Africa (Clean Star)

13. Summary & Conclusion
o The programme looks beyond use of food crops
o Focussed on improving the livelihoods of rural and marginal
farmers
o Address the sustainability – economic, environmental and social
13
Source: Wikipedia