Expert Proposes Sorghum for Bioethanol to Avoid Disrupting Food Security
An energy expert from the University of Indonesia, Ali Ahmudi Achyak, has proposed developing bioethanol from sorghum to avoid disrupting food security.
According to him, sorghum is less widely consumed by Indonesians compared to rice, corn, and wheat, making it a more viable source for bioethanol without threatening food supply needs.
Ali, a bioenergy researcher, stated that the land requirements for planting sorghum are not demanding. He noted that sorghum can grow on dry land, in areas with limited water, and even in arid coastal regions.
“Sorghum can survive there. If it is developed, for example, on the southern coast of Java, then in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and the west coast of Sumatra, it could become a supply for bioethanol,” Ali said.
He cautioned that if the government develops bioethanol from staple food sources such as sugarcane, cassava, or corn, it could disrupt food security programmes. Ali argued that if sugarcane is to be used, the government must carefully calculate the national sugar demand against production capacity to avoid shortfalls.
“Don’t let the use of sugarcane for ethanol lead to sugar imports. Sugar is not only for household consumption but also for the cake and food industries,” he stressed.
He also advised against using corn as a raw material for bioethanol, as corn is consumed by both humans and livestock. “If corn is used, there will be a conflict between three parties: human consumption, animal feed, and energy. Prioritise food first,” he said.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia has stated that the government is targeting the implementation of a 10 percent ethanol blend in fuel by 2027 as an initial step before transitioning to E20. He explained that the government has been reviewing the mandatory ethanol policy since 2025, and the study is nearly complete, forming the basis for a roadmap for the gradual implementation of E20 targeted through 2028–2029. The blending policy aims to reduce Indonesia’s dependence on imported fuel, particularly petrol.