New technology on cassava farms: [3] The potential of becoming the ‘green gold’

Energy pressure and opportunities for cassava

Dual pressures from fossil fuel depletion and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are forcing the world to seek alternative energy sources. In this context, ethanol has emerged as a viable option, with cassava offering significant advantages as a raw material.

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Viet Nam is currently the world’s second-largest cassava exporter. In particular, Tay Ninh - considered the country’s “cassava capital” - has more than 60,000 hectares under cultivation, with average yields reaching around 33.7 tons per hectare. The cassava industry is shifting strongly from food production toward industrial-crop production integrated into energy value chains.

According to experts, cassava’s greatest advantage lies in its high starch content, ranging from 22 to 31% depending on the variety. New varieties such as HAC-10 can achieve a starch content of 29-31%, optimizing ethanol conversion efficiency and outperforming many other crops.

“With a solid foundation in terms of raw material and productivity increasingly improved through science and technology, cassava can absolutely become a major source of ‘green fuel’ in the roadmap to replace fossil gasoline,” said Dr. Truong Vinh Hai, Deputy Director in charge of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences for Southern Viet Nam.

In recent years, cassava breeding programs at the Hung Loc Agricultural Research Center and the Institute of Agricultural Sciences for Southern Viet Nam have generated significant breakthroughs. A series of promising cassava lines from HAC-01 to HAC-10 have been selected, with HAC-10 considered the most suitable for ethanol production owing to its high and stable starch content. Disease resistance, especially against cassava mosaic disease, has become a top priority. The disease was previously a major bottleneck, causing severe losses in cassava-growing regions.

According to Ngo Minh Dung, Director of the Hung Loc Agricultural Research Center under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences for Southern Viet Nam, developing disease-resistant cassava varieties not only protects farmers’ production but also ensures a stable feedstock supply for the biofuel industry, preventing supply chain disruptions.

Breeding technology has advanced considerably. Scientists have moved from traditional methods to controlled breeding, combining imported genetic resources with local varieties to create superior hybrids that deliver both high productivity and adaptability to climate and soil conditions.

Commissioning research to remove bottlenecks

Despite positive progress, the cassava industry still faces a major obstacle: the gap between scientific research and practical business needs. Many research outcomes remain in laboratories, while enterprises lack suitable varieties for deep processing, specifically ethanol production.

To address this issue, a new mechanism has been proposed to shift from “selling varieties” to commissioning research. Under this approach, enterprises and industry associations would proactively commission research institutes and universities to develop cassava varieties tailored to specific objectives such as high starch content, short growth cycles, strong disease resistance, and suitability for biofuel production.

“This approach creates multidimensional benefits. Businesses secure standardized raw materials and reduce production risks. Scientists gain stable resources to pursue long-term studies rather than relying on short-term projects. Farmers gain access to higher-quality varieties and stable market outlets through contract farming arrangements. This is a necessary direction for building sustainable value chains and overcoming the fragmented, directionless production model that has persisted for years,” said Nguyen Dinh Xuan, Deputy Director of the Tay Ninh Department of Agriculture and Environment.

Affirming cassava’s position as the “green gold”

From a traditional crop, cassava is gradually transforming into “green gold” in the renewable energy sector. The convergence of advances in breeding science, processing technology, and circular economy models is laying the foundation for this transformation.

Experts believe that if properly guided, Viet Nam’s cassava industry could move beyond exporting raw materials to participate more deeply in global energy value chains, particularly carbon credit markets - a highly promising sector amid the green transition trend.

“Developing ethanol from cassava represents a dual strategic approach: increasing agricultural value while contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments. If effectively utilized, the cassava sector could help reduce millions of tons of CO₂ annually,” Deputy Director Nguyen Dinh Xuan said.

Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan, Director of the Institute for Circular Economy Development, stressed that developing biofuel gasoline from cassava not only contributes to national energy security but also serves as an important solution for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Expanding the use of E5 and E10 biofuels would reduce dependence on fossil fuels while creating a closed carbon cycle based on agricultural by-products.

Across the ethanol production value chain, breeding science plays a decisive role. Superior varieties determine not only productivity but also directly affect processing efficiency, production costs, and market competitiveness.

Strategic investment in research and breeding of cassava varieties specialized for biofuel production is considered key to unlocking breakthroughs for the industry. It is also the foundation for building concentrated raw material zones that meet increasingly stringent traceability and sustainability standards required by international markets.

The journey to transform cassava into green fuel still faces challenges in policy, infrastructure, and production linkages. However, with science and technology leading the way and coordinated participation from government, scientists, businesses, and farmers, the goal is clearly achievable. Cassava could then become a pillar of modern agriculture, contributing to energy security and sustainable development.