Short communicationWhite paper report from working groups attending the international conference on research and educational opportunities in bio-fuel crop production
Introduction
EARTH University and the University of Florida are dedicated to sustainable bio-fuel production systems in sub-tropical and tropical regions and wish to bring together similar minded institutions, governmental agencies, and private concerns with similar missions to focus on production issues and educational opportunities. To initiate planning for this venture EARTH University and the University of Florida co-hosted a meeting on bio-fuel crop production in environmentally sensitive tropical and sub-tropical regions in the Americas. The conference was held at the EARTH University Campus, Guácimo de Limón, Costa Rica on November 17–19, 2008. Delegations from Belize, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Panama, The Dominican Republic, and the United States, including ministers of Agriculture and Energy, attended this meeting. The conference addressed the energy crisis through discussion of agronomic and environmental research and socio-economic and educational efforts, with particular focus on the development of research opportunities and a vision for undergraduate, graduate and grower level programs related to bio-fuels and renewable energy.
Speakers from the United States included Dr. Gale Buchanan, Undersecretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture on “America’s energy future – renewable fuels”, Drs. Win Phillips and Jimmy Cheek Senior Vice Presidents of the University of Florida on the University of Florida research and educational activities and an array of other academics presented current research project and educational outreach in bio-fuel corps. Speakers from other countries such as Dr. Pedro Leon, presidential commission on Peace and Nature (Costa Rica) and Giovanni Pacheco, Sub-director for Energy (Costa Rica) and others represented ministries of Agriculture and Energy. Many international consultants, conservation groups and bio-energy production companies were also represented. The meeting addressed current research on crops for bio-fuel production with discussions of research alternatives for future crop production systems, land use issues, ethics of food vs. fuel production, and carbon sequestration in the Americas. Graduate and undergraduate curriculums and inter-institutional cooperation among educational institutions in the region were also discussed.
As part of anticipated conference outcomes, participants in the conference contributed to the development of a research agenda and to the articulation of university curricula leading to degrees with a specialization in bio-energy sciences. Over a two-day period, four working groups provided a framework to facilitate networking, motivate task oriented creative thinking, and maintain a timely accomplishment of assigned duties in the context of the conference themes. Participants in the conference were assigned to one of four working groups, each following given topics: Agronomy, Environment, Socio-Economics and Education/Extension. A discussion of present status, individual reflection and analysis, and group analysis concluded with a first draft of the assessment of current situation and analysis of future needs.
Section snippets
Agronomy working group
Agronomic needs focused on crop production for energy derived from oil (e.g. Jatropha, Castor bean, Oil Palm and Algae) and carbohydrates (e.g. Cassava and Sorghum and Sugarcane). Crop and process residues from these crops for cellulosic ethanol production were also considered. Agronomic management practices for energy production from sugarcane and oil palm is well known [1], however a full package of agronomic management is needed on the other crops [2], [3]. This would include research and
Environmental working group
The Environmental Working Group established eight overall themes to explore as agricultural bio-fuel technology and usage expands:
- 1)
Review current state of knowledge regarding bio-fuel crops,
- 2)
Consider crop residues and processing by-products as resources,
- 3)
Work to improve efficient use of resources,
- 4)
Develop closed production systems strategies (sustainability),
- 5)
Develop environmentally sound best management practices (BMPs) for bio-fuel crops,
- 6)
Improve agricultural zoning (use) according to soil
Socio-economic working group
The Socio-economic Work Group established the premise that it is possible to produce both food and fuel. Market driven “new green revolution” (transition from subsistence to commercial production) can produce crops that provide both food and fuel. Bio-fuels are a new economic activity that can improve the lifestyle of many people but this will only be true if there is a fair share of the profits, benefits and recognition (biodiversity, production, processing, etc). Policies can be put into
Education/extension working group
The Education/Extension Working Group began by recognizing existing programs. Autonomous University in Colombia, Chapingo University in Mexico, and CATIE in Costa Rica have graduate programs on renewable energy. Colorado State University has a new renewable energy program. University of Florida is proposing a graduate level program and other universities have courses and thesis research on renewable energy but not a specific bio-fuel crop production program. The working group decided baseline
Conclusions
It was the consensus of representatives of industry, academic and regulatory community assembled in Costa Rica that significant research, education and socio-economic information is needed to make production of bio-fuel crops sustainable. Agronomic research should include better crop selection based on local conditions, improved production techniques, pest and disease management, and mechanical cultivation and harvesting. Tailoring of production systems to local soil characteristics and use of
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