Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes, Inc

Jatropha Mania

In their rush to secure a place in the global biofuels market, developing countries like the Philippines seem to be leaving the very important, though not as profitable, goal of food security behind.

Jatropha biofuel: full speed ahead in the Philippines

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Brief history of Biodiesel

The concept dates back to 1885 when Dr. Rudolf Diesel built the first diesel engine with the full intention of running it on vegetative source. Read more »

Is jatropha worth the trouble?

Toxic
Dr. Saturnina Halos, chairman of the Department of Agriculture's Biotechnology Advisory Team, said in a forum on biofuels that jatropha contains neurotoxins capable of killing humans and animals. So far, there are two known cases of poisoning. In 2007, 21 grade school students in the island village of Tubigon, Bohol were rushed to hospital after they ate the fruit of the tuba-tuba, jatropha's local name. Another case of poisoning happened in Cansilayan, Murcia, Negros Occidental, where 10 children ate jatropha seeds.

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Jatropha biofuel: full speed ahead in the Philippines

Food prices are increasing. One factor in this problem is the rise in fuel prices, which is affecting farm input prices and transport costs. Biofuels, a renewable energy source, is being proffered as a solution to severe oil price increases in countries dependent on imported oil. Derived from the oils and fats of plants like sunflower, canola, and jatropha, biodiesel, a type of biofuel, can be used as a substitute for or an additive to conventional diesel.

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The development of a crisis

Food security, in the sense of having affordable and adequate food available and accessible to all, is a goal of the government, as stated in various laws and policies. But the development path on which the government lurches onward appears to lead not to well-being for all, but rather to more hunger and poverty for the multitude who cannot hold fast.

Sarangani, S. Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat under state of calamity

The provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat were placed under a state of calamity in the wake of heavy weekend rains from typhoon Butchoy. (international name Rammasun). The massive low-pressure area brought in rain and wind throughout an entire week.

In Sarangani province, two deaths have been reported in the town of Glan. Flood waters carried the victims away on May 9.

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Large-scale mining threatens Nueva Vizcaya IPs' food security

The food security of the indigenous peoples of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya is threatened by the large-scale mining operations of OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) and Oxiana-RoyalCo. At the same time, the FPIC process under the IPRA law brings disunity among the IPs residing in the affected areas.

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June 2008

Jatropha Mania

Brief history of Biodiesel

Is jatropha worth the trouble?

Jatropha biofuel: full speed ahead in the Philippines

The development of a crisis

Sarangani, S. Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat under state of calamity

Large-scale mining threatens Nueva Vizcaya IPs' food security