Development of biofuels without harming Vietnamese agriculture

"Biofuels are produced from agricultural products, but they are being separated from agriculture. Land for biofuels is almost no longer available." The Director of the Institute of Applied Materials discusses the establishment and conservation of Vietnam's biofuel-agricultural relations.

Exchanges of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Son Lam, Director of Institute of Applied Materials Science around the development of biofuels (bio-fuels) in Vietnam, especially the establishment and conservation of bio-fuels relations - Agriculture.

Associate Prof. Dr. Ho Son Lam said that bio-fuels (also called green fuels) are produced from many different agricultural products. There are many different perspectives on bio-agricultural relationship.

Song forever

- As a long-term researcher on bio-fuels, can you tell me more about the relationship between bio-fuels and agriculture?

Associate Prof. Dr. Ho Son Lam said that biofuels also have two faces . (Photo: ML)

The reciprocal relationship of all the effects on all things always has two aspects: Good and bad. The difference is only good or less good, much less bad or bad. How to make the good, minimize the bad to the extent possible, is always the goal of science and technology.

So is biofuels, it also has two sides. If we use agricultural land (good land to produce food, food) for fuel purposes, then we benefit in terms of fuel, but behind that we have to import food, food, vegetables. Thus, little benefit but much harm. If wasteland is used, the soil is degraded to grow oil crops, it will benefit much and cause little harm. If only cassava (cassava) is grown on the hills, we will get starch for food and fuel, but we are dying that land. Many years later, new grass grows back on that land, but mainly grass and trees are enough to live there.

Agriculture, including rice, cassava, corn and beans, is the main source of life for people and livestock. Industrial fermented foods for cattle can increase rapidly in number, but along with the rapid growth of strange diseases, harms the health of people. If we recall two or thirty years ago, when there was no industrial food, our cattle had almost no incurable diseases. This is because human and animal food comes from natural agriculture. So, if for some reason we narrow the area of ​​natural agriculture, rely on hybrid agriculture and growth stimulants, we will be our own victims.

- So, how does the use of biofuels affect agriculture?

Biofuels mean fuel produced from agricultural products. But agricultural products are a renewable product. The regeneration here is not the 'resurrection', but the repetition of the natural growth cycle. Therefore, raw materials for biofuels live forever with agriculture, not lost as oil, only lost when agriculture is destroyed! Therefore, the bio-energy development strategy must go hand in hand with the agricultural development strategy.

It is unreasonable for the Ministry of Industry and Trade to set up a strategy to develop bio-fuels, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which directs and manages agriculture on agriculture, is only a coordinating agency! This proves that we have not really understood biofuels, in other words, we still separate bio-fuels from agriculture. This is a huge mistake and will cost, if not change, perspective.

- Saying so means that the bio-fuels in us have not really developed. So, where is the main reason?

In my opinion, the main reason is due to our management and implementation problems. If you read carefully the bio-fuel development project of Vietnam until 2025, we will see many impressive numbers. But these figures have not mentioned the specific measures, in which, it is necessary to point out where the land is, what areas are planted . Agricultural land (temporarily considered as the land in the region capable of renovating to use for the item The purpose of food production and food) is gradually turning into industrial parks, golf courses, eco-tourism . So where to get land to plan bio-fuel areas?

Biofuels will be a new form of energy .
(Artwork: scienceinfo.net)

What scientists, bioenergy producers, raw material growers are interested in, which day, month, year, biogas will be formalized in Vietnam? Which agency is responsible for quality accreditation? Which agency is responsible for providing? I don't know when will it ever happen? Without those specific bases, who dares to build a few hundred billion factory and wait for the time to be allowed to use! There are people who dare to invest hundreds of thousands of hectares of land to grow materials, because they understand that oil is gold! Many countries are ready to buy, including fish fat with high prices! Do not know until 2025, we have raw materials to produce bio-fuels or not?

Developing bio-fuels: Listening to nature, protecting soil

- What should we do to sustainably develop bio-fuel resources?

There are many ways to develop bio-fuels (including gasoline and biodiesel), not only sugarcane and cassava to make alcohol, soybeans change gel to make oil . Need to listen to and sympathize with our nature. Don't rush to undermine it for an immediate purpose to create biofuels that break the harmony of nature and agriculture in Vietnam.

Do not see Brazilians growing sugarcane and becoming a powerhouse of biofuels, then we also destroyed sugarcane fields. Don't see America growing high-yielding hybrid corn and then imitating hybrid corn. Don't see India planting jatropha and we also cut down trees, buffalo trees, rubber trees to grow jatropha.

Biologists still think that Vietnam is a biodiversity country. Please respect that and from there, find yourself a way to develop bio-fuels. All that is too extreme, will have a common denominator that is disastrous. Seeing disaster in advance to avoid, rather than disaster recovery.

- So, which bio-fuel development should be based on the principles, according to him?

First , all biofuel production facilities must be built on the principle of non-waste technology.

Secondly , the new material area should only be developed in areas of low economic efficiency, at the same time, must be arranged with different materials, not monoculture. Planting for improvement and development rather than planting to exploit land.

Third , create conditions for everyone, especially people in remote areas to participate in producing materials for bio-fuels. The philosophy of 'contributing wind to storms' is the theoretical basis of non-waste technology.

Fourth , remember that bio-fuels are humane, not to get rich, but to protect the earth, to eradicate poverty, to make the earth greener, cleaner and more beautiful.

From these principles, leading to the arrangement of planting materials to suit each region and planting what trees to ecological harmony, to protect the soil. This, agricultural scientists understand very well.

Reasonable use of natural resources (including plant resources and agricultural products) will create a network of materials for biofuels. Only sustainable development can be achieved, if we harmoniously integrate the benefits of nature with the interests of people

- Thank you Sir.