There is hope for the energy challenge without compromising food production.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), one of the lesser known bio-energy crops, is found suitable for production in Cagayan soils, Northern Philippines. (Photo source: http://nybiofuels.inf)

Through geographic information system (GIS), the researcher used satellite images to derive the study area's soil, land use, topographic, and administrative boundary layer maps. The study also analyzed the physical and chemical properties of 30 soil series in the region, land quality requirements of 11 food crops currently grown and seven biofuel feedstocks, and agricultural production statistics.

Dr. Martin found more than one-third of the total agricultural lands in the region to be prime agricultural lands. These should be allocated for food and feed crop production in order to sustain the region's food requirement for the next 40 years, he said.

On the other hand, almost half of the region's marginal land (poor-quality land) is found suitable for growing bio-energy crops. Among the bio-energy crops, he identified switch grass, sugar cane, cassava, and oil palm to be more productive than jatropha, coconut, and sweet sorghum in terms of biomass yield, biofuel potential and soil suitability to the region's marginal lands.

According to Dr. Martin, his findings are useful to environmental planners because the maps generated may be considered in deciding agricultural land allocation for the region. Allocating marginal lands for producing a specific biofuel feedstock addresses the country's need for a renewable energy source without jeopardizing food security. This can also help improve farmers' earning capacity.

Dr. Martin also recommended that areas found to be permanently unsuitable for farming should be reforested to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. He hopes that his study would encourage both the local and national government to invest in biofuel feedstock production and support more research in this field, especially if there will be a national Biofuel Development Program.

Dr. Martin explained the relevance of his study to the food vs. fuel debate, saying that it adheres to the principles and mandates of the Biofuel Act of 2006 or Republic Act 9367. This law has been implemented to "develop and utilize indigenous, renewable, and sustainably-sourced clean energy sources to reduce dependence on imported oil".

The continued use of fossil fuel is no longer an option to support the world's energy needs in this time of climate change, the researcher said. Petroleum production through burning of fossil fuels contributes to green house gas (GHG) emissions and is one of the main causes of climate change. Thus, there is an urgent need to find cleaner and renewable energy sources, Dr. Martin asserted.

Apart from helping mitigate GHG emissions, the Biofuel Act also seeks to increase employment, and ensure availability of alternative and renewable clean energy without causing harm to the natural ecosystem, biodiversity, and food reserves of the country.

Dr. Martin has just earned his PhD in Soil Science at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He was an exchange student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada through the University Consortium Student Exchange Scholarship grant. At present, he is an Associate Professor at the College of Agriculture in Isabela State University.