The project entitled “APEC - ATCWG Biofuels Network Annual Symposium and Biotrade/Technical Training Workshop” is the continuation of a successful APEC funded project (ATC 16/2009A) entitled “Biofuels from Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Wastes” organized during 24^th – 27^th May 2010 which resulted in the establishment of APEC biofuels expert/private sector network from Indonesia, Mexico, Australia, United States, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, South Korea, and Philippines. The continuation support from APEC to the APEC biofuels network is a key process of capacity building.

The importance of food security was also outlined in the strategic plan during 2008 – 2011 of World Food Program (WFP) mentioning that millions of people on the global scale are exposed to desperation and hunger due to sky rocketing food and fuel prices which significantly undermine the purchasing power of households. The implementation of any initiative relating to biofuel should be assessed whether such activity make an impact to local staple food security (Final Report on Small - Scale Bioenergy Initiatives, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, 2009). There exists sounded arguments from both sides who support and discourage the production of cash crops. Some studies from World Bank and FAO did not reveal significant evidence of correlation between bioenergy production and diminished food supply. However, the development of second/third generation biofuels can alleviate this controversial issue by finding the coexistence of food and biofuels production from non-edible parts of plant. A number of APEC developing economies have the capacity to produce raw materials for second/third generation biofuels production.

Biofuels also provide a significant advantage over the fossil fuels in term of environmental aspect as stated in the Draft Terms of Reference by APEC Biofuels Task Force, EWG31, Singapore, May 2006 and more recently at NREL Golden, CO, October 2008 where cellulosic biomass has been considered as a future resource for energy supply with the potential to replace up to 50% of gasoline. In term of air quality, the application of total ethanol fuel – a type of biofuels results in a drastic decrease of greenhouse gases emission such as CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O by 106% with the additional benefit of safeguarding the soil, water and biodiversity.

• Strengthen and expand the established APEC biofuels network by setting up a biofuels symposium on an annual basis to stress the importance of the second and third generation biofuels research development. By the end of the training, participants/trainees will be able to gain the perspective of suitable trading of raw materials, technology, and products among APEC economies with general participants.
• Update the progress on technical, economics, and environmental information and experiences regarding the bioconversion of agricultural and agro-industrial wastes to biofuels among participants of APEC member economies by concentrating on biofuels regulatory cooperation.
• Establish training workshop on biotrade/technical aspects of biofuels by inviting experienced biotraders, academics, and private sectors to train active participants working in the field of biofuels to create initiative and make sure that participants/trainees realize the importance of food security, sustainable trade development, as well as rural community improvement with the accompanied gender-aggregated data by the end of the training. By concentrating on the second and third generation biofuels, the existing agricultural and agro-industrial wastes are used instead of expansion of cultivation area for food crop hence conservation assurance and biodiversity are also achieved.

The quantification of success for all objectives will be carried out by data collection based on questionnaires distributed to the active/general participants during the event. Another deliverable in this event will be the development of a joint international technical research/training of the trainers proposal between interested APEC economies and acquire match funding from APEC and/or appropriate fund providing institutes such as European Commission, JICA, NRU (National Research University), and APO.  

This symposium/training workshop will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand during 30th May – 4th June (Duration of Meeting/training workshop: 6 days).

This symposium will provide a discussion platform to all APEC economies. The working group will invite representatives from APEC economies interested in the research and development of biofuels including lecturers, researchers, staff, trader, as well as policy makers from both public and private sectors as well as students and farmers that are involved in the fields.

The general participants to the symposium (up to 80-100 persons) are also welcomed.


The registration can be done online no later than  23rd April 2011 for active participants / keynote speakers and 30th April 2011 for general participants because we need to finalize and  submit  the List of Participants to APEC one month before the meeting commences. Your cooperation is appreciated.