A Review of the Water Footprint of Biofuel Crop Production in Thailand

Abstract

Increase of biofuel production is an important component in the development of alternative energy in Thailand. To meet the higher amount of biofuel (targeted by Thailand Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, DEDE), a lot of biofuel feedstock production is needed which in turn requires a large volume of water for irrigation. This study assesses the water footprint (WF) of three key biofuel crops in Thailand- cassava, sugarcane, and oil palm, based on previous studies. The WF varies considerably for each region, which is characterized by different climatic conditions and agricultural production systems. The results show that the water uses per hectare of cassava, sugarcane, and oil palm lands are in the range of 7,235-9,652, 11,630-16,312, and 12,942-23,547 m3, respectively; and, the ranges of freshwater consumption in Thailand for cassava, sugarcane, and oil palm production are between 409-455, 162-276, and 965-2,353 m³ per ton of product, respectively. Although Thailand uses water for biofuel crop cultivation more efficiently than some other countries, good water management practices are still required in order to avoid the conflict between water for energy and food. These results have implications for both policy makers and farmers in terms of water management and planning.