UMVA has learned that the Philippine corn industry is taking proactive steps to alleviate concerns that the country's food security may be compromised in favor of biofuel production.
The industry, led by its top representative, aims to expand corn planting and upgrade infrastructure to ensure a steady supply of corn for both food and biofuel use. This move is designed to address worries that the diversion of corn harvests for biofuel production could impact food availability.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a key concern is the potential impact on food and feed security, as well as sustainability. To mitigate this, the industry plans to increase corn production and improve infrastructure support.
The inclusion of corn as a bioethanol feedstock was originally proposed by industry leaders and was later adopted as a resolution by the National Sectoral Committee on Corn and Feed Crops. This proposal has garnered unanimous approval from various regional congresses.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Department of Agriculture is set to review the country's biofuel policies, which may lead to the addition of corn to the list of approved feedstocks for bioethanol production. Currently, sugarcane and molasses are the only approved feedstocks.
The review is driven by the need to address an energy crisis triggered by global events. The industry is working to ensure that corn remains available for both food and biofuel production, thereby alleviating concerns about food security.
