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Abstract
The global production and use of biofuels have increased
dramatically in the past few years due to volatile and
increasing oil prices, and environmental concerns.
The main feedstocks for ethanol are sugarcane, maize
and, to a lesser extent, wheat, sugarbeet and cassava.
Biodiesel oil-producing crops include rapeseed and oil
palm. All divert land away from food production to
energy production. This has in turn triggered the food
versus energy debate, with several studies attributing
the rising food prices to the feedstock diversion to biofuels, hurting poor
consumers and net food-importing countries. To overcome the food–
fuel trade-off several countries are promoting feedstocks that can grow
on marginal lands and hence do not compete with food production. At
ICRISAT we launched a global pro-poor ‘BioPower Initiative’ focusing on
biomass sources and approaches that do not compete with, but rather
enhance food and nutritional security. Sweet sorghum is one such ‘smart’
multipurpose crop that does not compromise on food security while
producing energy. The grain is used for food and the stalk is used for juice
extraction for bioethanol. It is encouraging that the Western Australian
Government in partnership with Kimberley Agricultural Investments has
plans to grow sweet sorghum on 13,400 hectares of land for processing
into bioethanol. Further, the use of sweet sorghum in existing sugar mills
as biofuel feedstock provides a win–win situation for both farmers and
industry. Data from India, the Philippines, China and Brazil indicate that
sweet sorghum is an economically viable, socially equitable, environmentally
sustainable and resilient smart crop.