Friday, May 02, 2008 Malunggay, way out of debate vs biofuel: Agri exec
THERE is one way out of the debate between backers of biofuel and groups demanding that all agricultural land should be devoted to rice production and the cultivation of food crops.
Director Alicia Ilaga of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO) said malunggay is the only plant that provides both biofuel and food at the same time, and this versatile tree is attracting a slew of local and foreign investors.
As biofuel feedstock, Ilaga said malunggay seeds can produce up to 40 percent oil, meaning a kilo of seeds from the pods would yield 400 milliliters of oil that is good for cooking and as substitute for diesel.
The oil derived from malunggay seeds is good that the North American Biofuels Incorporated opted for it rather than jatropha, a plant native to Asia long used as source of oil to light up rural homes in India and run farm equipment, she added.
Unlike malunggay, jatropha is poisonous and could not provide any help to sustain the nutritional needs of millions of Filipinos.
On the other hand, malunggay leaves have seven times the Vitamin C found in organes, four times the calcium and twice the protein found in milk, 75 percent of the iron in spinach, 400 percent more Vitamin A than carrots and thrice the potassium in bananas. It even has copper and all the essential amino acids.
Dried malunggay are even better since they possess more micronutrients, said Ilaga.
With this huge amount of micronutrients in malunggay, its leaves have been used to fortify soups and sauces, breads, biscuits, burgers, hotdogs and instant noodles. There are also several types of malunggay tea in the market and soon, malunggay juice may be available in abundance to consumers.
As herbal supplement, malunggay comes in capsule form to supply consumers with the micronutrients they need.
With reports from India affirming the capability of malunggay to increase sperm count and motility, which increases the likelihood of fertilizing the ovum, adult males have been encouraged to eat malunggay to improve their virility.
There can also be no argument against malunggay competing for scarce land since the tree had been grown in the country since prehistoric times and had not stolen a single square meter of soil where rice is cultivated.
Ilaga stressed that malunggay's high oil recovery rate is a big plus for investors, prompting US investors to look more closely into the possibility of developing 500,000 hectares of land in various types of terrains for malunggay cultivation.
Moreover, malunggay grows in abundance anywhere, particularly in hilly areas where it does not compete with regular food crops.
Biotechnology Information and Organization Network (BioNet) Vice President for Visayas Engr. Danilo Manayaga said that far from competing for land devoted to rice, farmers can plant malunggay even in hostile terrain to augment their incomes.
BioNet president Dr. Gaudencio Petalcorin added that malunggay seeds are not eaten in Mindanao, and collecting seeds would provide additional work for farmers anytime of the year.
Only the leaves and fruits of malunggay are eaten, he added, and from these are derived the natural ingredients needed by the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food processing industries.
"It's both for food and fuel. We eat the leaves and we can use the seeds for fuel," Ilaga said.
Ilaga, Manayaga and Petalcorin are leading advocates for the full development of the moringa oil, which was tested in the United States as better alternative biodiesel than jatropha oil.
With oil hitting $120 a barrel and presumably rising in the next few months, the three officials are pushing for the massive cultivation of malunggay and the collection of mature seeds nationwide.
"The most beneficial part of malunggay is nutrition, lahat ng parts magagamit. Whereas sa jatropha, meron poisonous part na maiiwan when you get the oil. Parang nuclear waste yan e, kahi saan mo itatago magle-leak din yan," Manayaga said.
For one hectare of land planted to malunggay, the equivalent of 20,000 kilos of seeds could be collected and this translates to 8,000 kilos of oil. This means an income of P200,000 a year for an ordinary farmer.
To date, a total of 300,000 hectares of land have been committed to produce malunggay oil by Secura International but US clients are demanding that 200,000 hectares be added to supply the company with its requirements.
Manayaga predicts that in the next few years, moringa oil would be in demand in the Korean Peninsula and in Japan, both of which are gunning for alternatives to fossil fuels. (Biolife News)
