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Farmers back plan to use fallow land for biodiesel crops

Twelve farmers' associations in southern Taiwan signed an agreement with Taiwan NJC Corp yesterday to assist owners of fallow farmland to produce crops with which the company can produce biodiesel.

The signing ceremony in Hsuehchia Township (學甲) in Tainan County was witnessed by Council of Agriculture Minister Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全).

Su said that Taiwan has 220,000 hectares of fallow farmland, which could be used to grow enough crops to produce 110,000 kiloliters of biodiesel per year. This in turn could reduce the nation's annual emissions of carbon dioxide by 330,000 tonnes, he said.

Su said that many advanced countries have been developing biodiesel as an alternative energy source, and that Taiwan should follow suit to not only increase energy self-sufficiency, but also to promote environmental protection and economic and agricultural development.

Under the agreement, a farmer will be entitled to a guaranteed price plus a subsidy if the crops supplied are up to required standards.

According to Council of Agriculture estimates, about 2,000 hectares of fallow farmland will be included in the initial production plan this year to grow soybeans, sunflowers and rape, and that the scope of the plan will be expanded if everything goes smoothly.

Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel which is non-toxic and virtually free of harmful sulfur and aromatics. It can be mixed at any level with diesel to create a biodiesel blend.

The Chiayi-based Taiwan NJC Corp began manufacturing biodiesel in October 2004.
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