Since 2005, CIRAD (International Center for Agricultural Research for Development) and TOTAL SA (world’s fifth-ranked international oil and Gas Company) have conducted research in different regions of the world to assess the production potential of bioenergy crops in tropical countries. The projects were coordinated by Dr Laurent Gazull, a senior scientist from CIRAD. One of the projects focused on cassava and sugarcane production for ethanol in Thailand and involved JGSEE as collaborating partner with Dr Sebastien Bonnet as project leader.
During 15-18 December 2015, Dr Gazull visited JGSEE-CEE to discuss the outcomes of the TOTAL projects and contribute as main guest speaker to a seminar on “Sustainable Production Potential of Energy Crops in Tropical Areas: Case-studies and Lessons Learnt”. The event was organised by JGSEE at KMUTT in the afternoon of 18 December. The seminar was chaired by Professors Naksitte Coovattanachai, Advisor to KMUTT and Bundit Fungtammasan, Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation of KMUTT. During the seminar, Dr Gazull delivered two presentations, one on “Assessment of the Potential for Sustainable Energy Crops Production: Assumptions and Methodology” and the other on “Lessons Learnt from Selected Case-studies in Tropical Countries”. Dr Sebastien Bonnet also delivered a presentation on “Cassava and Sugarcane Production for Ethanol in Thailand: Estimating the Realistic Potential” to disseminate the main results of the TOTAL project for Thailand. The seminar was very informative and well attended, gathering about 20 participants from academic and governmental organizations.