Japan eyeing Philippines sugarcane for future bioethanol supply

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December 7, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Japan is looking to the Philippines as a potential partner in developing new bioethanol sources as Tokyo ramps up research collaboration on sugarcane technologies and low-carbon fuel production.

Speaking at the Sustainable Development of Sugarcane Cultivation Symposium held last Monday at The Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod, Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya said Tokyo sees significant long-term potential in the country’s sugarcane sector.

“I sincerely hope that the success of this project will create a lasting, positive impact through strengthening food security, advancing agricultural resilience and above all, uplifting our farmers and our communities,” Kazuya said, referring to the five-year Japan–Philippines collaborative research effort led by Japanese universities and local institutions.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) signed an agreement with the University of Tokyo in March to advance practical sugarcane research.

The partnership aims to develop new technologies, improve systems and explore how sugarcane can benefit various industries, including bioethanol production.

Kazuya said that ongoing studies on climate-resilient varieties, improved planting techniques and optimized cane-to-ethanol conversion could help raise productivity in sugar districts while laying the groundwork for new export-oriented value chains.

He added that Japanese researchers are also working with local agencies to map areas suitable for expanded bioethanol feedstock production and to assess smallholder participation in future supply contracts.

The SRA said one of the key results of the project was teaching local farmers a new “deep planting” method from Japan, which helped increase sugarcane harvests.

The study found that farmers using the new method were able to harvest 77.23 tons per hectare, up from the usual 63.92 tons per hectare with traditional planting.

This boost in production means about 28 more bags of sugar per hectare, or an extra income of roughly P68,215 for each farmer.