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164 The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume III - 2011 164 Cassava Industry in Thailand: Prospects Figure 2. Diagram illustrating the division of root stock use and final products. Challenges to the Thai cassava industry Although the Thai cassava industry has long been developed and has become one of the most competent agri-business and agro-industries compared to other crops, the industry is still confronted with a lot of rapid and dynamic changes, e.g. climate change, depletion of natural resource reserves, national vs international trading policy and regulations, modernization in industry, consumer behavior and needs. These constraints are an important driving force that directs the development of the industry. Sustainability of food and fuel security In addition to being both a food crop and an industrial crop, cassava has recently been considered as an energy crop, being utilized for the production of bioethanol. Similar to corn-based ethanol, cassava-based ethanol can be blended with gasoline; the product is named as gasohol and used as an alternative fuel in automobiles. The promise of cassava as potential feedstock for bioethanol production in Thailand has raised a critical concern for food security. To sustain a cassava- based bioethanol industry, it is important to improve cassava-ethanol production 160-170_mac9 5/3/12, 11:43 PM 164