The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), one of independent administrative institutions, has since earlier proposed to exploit biomass resources abundantly existing in the ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and others, as a part of the “Asian Biomass Strategy”, and now, studies have been embarked on drafting the “ASEAN Biomass R&D Integrated Strategy”, based on the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology, and in collaboration with the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), and five other independent administrative institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (MAFF).

The quantity of untapped biomass resources existing in the ASEAN region is said to be comparable to that of primary energy consumed in Japan, but their reserve amount, distribution and forms are not known exactly. On the other hand, Japanese technologies for exploiting biomass energy are fairly prominent, as exemplified by the number of patent applications, which is close to 50 % of the worldwide total. Moreover, as it is essential to utilize the biomass resources in line with a flow of work steps involving collection, transportation, transformation and actual use, close collaboration is needed among scientists and engineers of related fields. The AIST and Research Institutions of MAFF are going to draft an ASEAN Biomass R&D Integrated Strategy by organizing a research group with university and non-profit organization, and inviting researchers from institutes in the ASEAN countries, and by carrying out surveillance studies for reserve amount and species, as well as means for full utilization of biomass resources in the ASEAN countries, as well as by hosting workshops. Furthermore, the AIST and Research Institutions are going to propose a series of joint R&D programs for production, harvesting and transformation, and person exchange programs for technology, research and policy-making.

“Biomass” refers to biological resources available on a massive scale, such as trees, grasses, seaweeds, agricultural and forestry wastes. Since the quantity of carbon dioxide emitted on burning the biomass is equivalent to that released through their death and bacterial decomposition, it constitutes so-called “carbon-neutral” renewable energy which is not to be counted in CO2 emission responsible to global warming, and its effective utilization is expected to contribute to the alleviation of the greenhouse effect. As is well known, woods have been used as fuel since earlier. Besides, in addition to the fuel use, the biomass can be transformed through the energy conversion technology into transportable energy, such as ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel fuel and so on. It is focal issues of the latest R&D tasks how to produce these renewable fuels efficiently and economically. Since it is important to exploit the biomass resources effectively along a consistent flow of work steps, such as harvesting, transfer, conversion and practical utilization, close collaboration is indispensable among scientists and engineers in related fields of disciplined concerned.

In December 2002, the “Biomass Nippon Strategy” was decided at the Cabinet Meeting of Japanese Government, to address the exploitation of domestic biomass resources. The biomass resource available in Japan, however, is believed to be as little as a few percents of the primary energy consumption. On the other hand, untapped biomass resource reserved in Asia, in particular, in the ASEAN region is said to be as enormous as the primary energy consumption in Japan. If the biomass resource could be utilized effectively in the ASEAN countries, it might be expected to provide valuable spin-off effects such as creation of novel biomass industries, revitalization of rural economy, including agriculture and forestry, cut-back of fuel resource consumption, reduction of greenhouse effect gas emission, and effective recycling of wastes. Moreover, the move would bring such merits to Japan, as securing biomass resource, clean development mechanism (CDM) credit, provision of energy security, contribution to the global environment conservation. In order to achieve these feats, it is necessary to take the following measures in collaboration with research organizations in the ASEAN countries: (1) surveillance of reserve and availability of biomass resources in the ASEAN countries, (2) studies on locally adaptable ways of energy conversion and materials transformation for biomass resources in the ASEAN region, and (3) assessment for impact of biomass exploitation to environment and economy.

For the effective utilization of the biomass resources, it is of crucial importance to address comprehensive approach covering production, harvesting, transformation, conversion and actual use, in consistent consideration of the entire flow from upper to lower reaches, as in case of the present project. Hence, it is essential to invite participation and collaboration from research organizations of diverse fields of technological specialty, such as conversion and transformation, breeding and cultivation, and nurturing of forest resources. In particular, Japanese technology for material transformation, such as ethanol production, is superior to that of the United States and Europe, as proven by the number of patent applications.

The AIST Chugoku, the Biomass Technology Research Laboratory (BTRL) and the International Affairs Department (IAD) of AIST have organized a joint study group on biomass in December 2003 (Fourth Meeting was held in July 2004) together with the Research Institutes of MAFF, to make discussions on the effective utilization of biomass resources in the ASEAN region and to identify possible issues. Furthermore, the AIST Chugoku has been operating the Chugoku Regional Biomass Council since November 2003 in collaboration with the METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) Chugoku and about 20 private enterprises, aiming at the practical application of biomass technology, facilitating information exchange and exploring the feasibility of new business creation. In March 2004, AIST Chugoku held the International Forum “Biomass Strategy for Asia” in collaboration with the METI Chugoku and the Chugoku Collaboration Center.

The close interactions among diverse research organizations have culminated in a proposal of R&D project to bring forth the effective exploitation of biomass resources in the ASEAN region. The proposal was accepted as a new project “ASEAN Biomass R&D Integrated Strategy” (Leader: Dr. Yoshiyuki Sasaki, Head of BTRL-AIST) under the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology, of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), starting a full-scale tackle for the exploitation of ASEAN biomass resources. The project will be carried out for a planned period of three years through the collaboration among nine institutions: AIST (leader); five independent administrative institutions affiliated with MAFF: Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), National Agriculture and Bio-Oriented Research Organization (NARO), National Institute for Rural Engineering (NIRE), National Food Research Institute (NFRI), and Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI); University of Tokyo (UOT), a national university corporate; and Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), a juridical foundation.

So far, the collaboration effort has made contact with the following research organizations, for example, in the ASEAN countries through mutual visits and invitation. Collaboration will be further extended in the near future.

• Thailand Institute of Science and Technology (TISTR), Thailand
• National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NSTDA), Thailand
• Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Vietnam
• Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV), Vietnam
• University of Science Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
• Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia

The present project will make survey works on ASEAN biomass resource reserve and species, energy conversion, materials transformation technologies and environmental impact assessment. Subsequently, the surveillance will be shifted to optimal conversion system, social system, creation of new industries, economic merits and so on. The collaboration with research organizations in the ASEAN countries will be strengthened through the survey works and international workshops. The workshop is expected once every year. The workshop for FY2004 will be held January 20-21, 2005 at Tsukuba, Japan, with subsequent meetings scheduled in Tokyo.

Through the survey works and workshops, it is expected to establish closer collaboration with R&D institute in the ASEAN countries, to investigate problems related to subsequent technological development, policy making and social organization, and to formulate the scenario for effective exploitation of biomass reserve in the ASEAN countries. Furthermore, the “ASEAN Biomass R&D Integrated Strategy”, the main objective of the present project, will be drafted, and the joint development program for biomass production, harvesting and conversion, as well as the person exchange program concerning technology, research and policy making will be formulated.