The Inception Meeting for China-Philippines Sustainable Biogas Development - 1st Enlarged Technical Committee was held by Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (BIOMA) on September 2, 2021.

 

Presided by Mr. Deng Yu, Deputy Director General of BIOMA, the meeting was attended by Mr. Guo Li, Director of United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Center for South-South Industrial Cooperation (UCSSIC), Mr. Zhang Yahui, Director of Department of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Ms. Ana Abejuela, Agriculture Counsellor of Embassy of the Republic of Philippines in People’s Republic of China, Mr. Olivier Dubois, Senior Natural Resources Officer & Leader Energy Programme, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and Mr. Minh Pha Quang, Assistant Director, Sectoral Development Directorate Head of Food, Agriculture and Forestry Division, ASEAN with special speeches delivered. As project partners, Mr. Wang Dengshan, Director General of Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Mr. Reildrin Morales, Director General of Bureau of Animal Industry, Phillipines, respectively introduced the technical committee and work plan of each side.

 

Director Guo Li introduced the UCSSIC as a benchmark project jointly supported by the Chinese government and UNIDO. With the purpose of promoting South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, UCSSIC will give instructions to the project implementation of the China-Philippines Sustainable Biogas Development throughout the process. He hoped that China and the Philippines would overcome the difficulties brought by COVID-19, adhere to dedication and professionalism, successfully complete the project, and share the project results and cooperation model with other countries with similar challenges and promotion conditions, so that more people will be benefited.

 

Director Zhang Yahui emphasized the key role of biogas technology in developing rural ecology and green agriculture, introduced the National Agriculture Science& Technology Innovation Alliance established internally by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and international agricultural science and technology cooperation carried out externally. He affirmed BIOMA's role in platform construction and technology promotion and hoped that the two parties of project implementation will start from industry development and people's expectations, carry out work in a collaborative, inclusive and solid manner, so as to provide reference for solving global environmental and energy problems.

 

Counsellor Abejuela introduced the unprecedented active actions taken by the Philippine government against rural pollution and for agricultural waste utilization during the growth of agricultural production. Having presented the positive impact of biogas technology in the Philippines and the current supportive policies from the government, she put forward suggestions that economical and applicable biogas technology be developed to enable the institutionalization of the energy industry, galvanize livestock industry of the two countries and strengthen the bilateral relations according to the needs and affordability of small and medium-sized livestock and poultry farms.

Mr. Dubois emphasized that the implementation of this project is in line with the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and confirmed Asia’s active contribution and rich experience in biogas promotion as the second largest biogas production region in the world. He hailed the South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation between China and its international partners and said that the FAO would continue to support biogas development under the framework of South-South cooperation, and would jointly formulate guidelines on straw biogas with BIOMA and work with this project to help Asia develop bigger biogas development potential.

 

Assistant Director Minh highlighted ASEAN’s emphasis on food, agriculture and forestry, and introduced the ASEAN Strategy on Sustainable Biomass Energy for Agriculture Communities and Rural Development in 2020-2030, which lists agricultural waste treatment a priority. He affirmed the basic-laying role of this project in establishing a regional platform for South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation in the biogas field as well as its positive response to ASEAN communities and energy strategies, and recommended the effective and sustainable mechanism of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in promoting technology transfer.

 

Director General Wang Dengshan introduced the efforts made by the BIOMA in scientific research and technology dissemination. He thanked the Chinese government, international organizations and foreign partners for their support in developing biogas, reviewed capacity building and demonstration projects unfolded by BIOMA for Philippines and other developing countries, stressed the significance of this project in the context of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”, briefed the composition and work arrangements of the Chinese technical expert group, and agreed to carry out pragmatic and efficient cooperation with Philippine partners under the guidance of UCSSIC, complete project tasks, and contribute to global green development for One Community and a shared future for mankind.

Director General Morales said that the large amount of livestock waste in the Philippines provides favorable conditions for the development of biogas technology. Having affirmed the role of biogas technology in solving energy and environmental issues and advancing the economic development of the Philippines, he introduced the Philippines’ National Animal Waste Resource Management Program (NAWRMP) encouraging the development of alternative energy sources such as biogas, reviewed the benefits of reinforced fiber glass biogas digester for the remote and low-income households under Pérez-Guerrero Trust Fund implemented by BAI and BIOMA in Philippines in 2018. In addition, he thanked BIOMA's persistent contributions to the R&D and promotion of biogas technology and indicated that the implementation of this project will help all parties raise awareness and establish a biogas technology partnership. He also wished that this project would drive the development of community tourism and agriculture and the upgrading of livestock wastewater treatment technology.

Deputy Director General Deng Yu and Deputy Director General Ms. Juana Tapel of the Philippine Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) made concluding remarks. Also attending the meeting were officials from the China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund (CAF), the ASEAN Secretariat, Foreign Affairs Office of Sichuan Province, and project team members of both parties.

This inception meeting is an important part of the project entitled "China-Philippines Sustainable Biogas Development". In the project period of 1.5 years, under the support of UCSSIC, BIOMA will work with BAI, Philippines for the outputs including knowledge products, capacity building, demonstration and comparative study. Based on the development tendency of the biogas industry and the actual demand from stakeholders, the expected project outcome covers the enhancement of waste treatment and utilization, scientific and technological cooperation in the field of agriculture, and another model of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation.