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Introduction

Food security in India refers to the provision of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to all its citizens at all times, enabling them to lead a healthy life. It encompasses food availability, access, utilization. In recent times, India’s push for renewable energy, particularly biofuels, has raised concerns about potential conflicts with food security.

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India’s focus on renewable energy, particularly biofuels, could potentially threaten its food security in several ways:

• Land Use Diversion: Biofuel production often requires the use of arable land, which could otherwise be used for food crop cultivation. For example, diverting land for jatropha cultivation, a popular biofuel crop, can reduce the area available for food crops. Example- In India, around 2.4% of arable land is used for biofuel production.
  
• Water Resources: Biofuel crops can be water-intensive, placing additional strain on India’s already scarce water resources. For instance, sugarcane, used for ethanol production, requires significant water, which could otherwise support food crops. Example– 1,400 to 20,000 Litre of water per Litre of biofuel.
• Impact on Food Prices: If large-scale farming is redirected towards biofuel crops, it could create scarcity and drive up food prices. For example, maize, used both as food and biofuel, may see price hikes if demand for biofuel increases.
• Energy vs Food Dilemma: Crops like sugarcane and oil palm can be used for both food and biofuel. This dual use can lead to the ‘food vs fuel’ dilemma, potentially compromising food availability.
• Ecosystem Degradation: Some biofuel crops may lead to environmental degradation, affecting soil fertility and thus future food production. For instance, large-scale palm oil plantations have been linked to deforestation in Malaysia.
• R&D Diversion: Resources for agricultural research could be redirected towards optimizing biofuel crops, at the expense of research into improving food crop yields and resistance to pests and diseases.
• Input Costs: Biofuel crop cultivation could increase the demand for farming inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, raising their prices and affecting food crop production costs.
• Labour Diversion: Biofuel crop cultivation could pull labour away from food crop farming, affecting food production, especially in labour-intensive farming systems in India.

Balanced strategies to harmonize energy goals with food security imperatives can include

• Prioritize Second-Generation Biofuels: As they use non-food resources like agricultural residues, non-edible plant parts, and waste biomass. For instance, rice straw can be converted into biofuel, reducing waste and avoiding competition with food crops.
• Crop Rotation: Implement crop rotation practices to grow food and biofuel crops alternately, maintaining soil fertility and biodiversity. For instance, alternating between maize (biofuel crop) and legumes (food crop) can improve soil nitrogen content.
• Intercropping: Promote intercropping, where food and biofuel crops are grown together on the same piece of land. For instance, growing legumes with jatropha not only produces biofuel but also provides food crops without additional land requirement.
• Drought-Resistant Biofuel Crops: Promote the cultivation of drought-resistant biofuel crops that can grow in marginal lands unsuitable for food crops. For instance, switchgrass and miscanthus are robust biofuel crops that can be grown on degraded lands.
• Regulation and Policies: Implement clear policies to ensure that biofuel production does not compromise food availability and accessibility. Brazil’s sugarcane ethanol policy, for instance, includes clear guidelines on land use and safeguards food production.
• Diversified Energy Portfolio: Maintain a diversified energy portfolio to minimize dependence on biofuels. Solar and wind power are excellent examples of alternative renewable energy sources.
• Food Waste to Energy: Explore the potential of converting food waste into energy. For example, anaerobic digestion can convert food waste into biogas, providing a renewable energy source without affecting food crop cultivation. Example- RUCO Initiative by FSSAI.

Conclusion

India’s pursuit of renewable energy, particularly biofuels, needs to be balanced with its food security obligations. By integrating innovative practices and policy interventions, the country can harmonize its energy goals with food security, charting a sustainable and inclusive development pathway.

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