A New Study into the Alternative Use of Agricultural Crops
17 November 2009
The selection procedure for the new research programme 'Agriculture beyond Food' has been completed by the Netherlands Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO) and the Royal Dutch Academy of Science (KNAW) together with their Indonesian partners. This five year scientific programme investigates the opportunities and limitations of bio-based products.Three complementary research proposals were selected from the eight entries by Indonesian-Dutch research teams (see below for a list of the proposals that were selected). These proposals are aimed at the socio-economic, legal, geographical, anthropological and technological aspects of the production of vegetable oil for biodiesel and other products from crops including Jatropha curcas and oil palm. Land use, the forcing out of the local population and the potentially new means of existence for rural communities are key topics on the research agenda. Wageningen University and Research Center coordinates this research programme. Scientists from Groningen, Utrecht, Leiden, Wageningen, Twente in the Netherlands and from Indonesia take part in this study. This integrated approach is essential and characteristic of this programme. The awarded grant amounts to 2.5 million euros.