Solutions to sustainable and effective bio-fuel development through 2025 were put forward at a symposium in Hanoi on Sept. 25.

At the event, entrepreneurs, scientists, managers and policy makers shared the view that bio-fuel development will help diversify the fuel supply, reduce petrol imports and improve the trade balance while enhancing the economic efficiency of agriculture.

In addition, they pointed out the convenience of using bio-fuel, which can be produced at lower cost than energy products made from fossil fuels.

Vietnam is rich in diverse materials for bio-fuel processing such as crops high in sugar (sugar cane, sugar beet, and sweet sorghum), starch (cassava/maize) and plants that contain high amounts of vegetable oil.

Any materials containing cellulose, lipids and carbonhydrates, including recycled vegetable oil--can be made into bio-fuel, they said.

However, they noted, bio-fuel should be made from materials that are not used for foodstuffs and can be planted on unfertile land to ensure food security. The materials must be as cheap as agro-forestry and processing industry waste, they added./.