Gov't looks into algae potentials

Gov't looks into algae potentials
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA
June 20, 2011, 2:23pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has consulted algae experts to look into the potentials of algae as a source of biofuel in the country.

The DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) has convened experts on algae for a preliminary consultation meeting, which included Dr. Joel L. Cuello, professor of Biosystems Engineering of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from University of Arizona in the United States; professors Rex Demafelis, Lourdes Cardenas, and Nerissa Torreta of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB); Dr. Nemesio Montano of Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippine-Diliman (UPD); Professor Caridad Jimenez, University of the Philippines-Visayas (UPV); Dr. Fabian Dayrit of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU); and Edwin Bacani of the Congressional Committee on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE).

Cuello, one of the 10 members of the United States National Academy’s Committee on the Sustainable Development of Algae Biofuels, was in the Philippines to meet and discuss with research and development stakeholders the potential of algae in the biofuels spectrum.

The consultation was also intended to conceptualize the developmental framework in which UPLB, UPD, UPV and AdMU will form the core organizations of the program.

Meanwhile, BAR will serve as the facilitator and liaison between the above institutions and other government agencies like DA-Biotechnology Program Office, DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, COMSTE, and the Committee on Agriculture and Food, among others.

“Algae are very good candidates as feedstock for biofuels because they are renewable, meaning to say you can grow them. They also have high productivity in terms of oil, much greater than all the others,” Cuello, who has been working and studying algae for more than a decade, said.

He noted that his visit to the Philippines has opened a lot of doors and opportunities for the country to look into the potential and benefits of algae not only in biofuels, but in the areas of “nutraceuticals” and high-value organic fertilizers as well, pointing out that the country is a natural habitat for algae

Anthony Obligado of BAR-Technology and Commercialization Division (TCD) said the research is “a welcome and positive development.”

DA said the presence of the scientific community in the said meeting is a manifestation of the commitment among the academes to pursue vigorously doable measures to enhance the country’s productivity.

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