What's beyond harvest? A sustainable livelihoods approach to rice straw bioenergy adoption in the Philippines

Abstract

Rice straw is often perceived as an agricultural waste that leads to environmentally harmful disposal methods such as open field burning. This study rethinks rice straw as a resource for bioenergy innovation and examines its potential to enhance sustainable livelihoods in rice-producing communities in the Philippines. Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework as an analytical lens, this research explores the allocation of key resources, stakeholder perceptions of challenges and opportunities, and priorities within the rice value chain. A gamified participatory approach was employed to engage stakeholders in structured decision-making. Mixed methods were used to analyse the data. Friedman Test and Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance assessed rankings and consensus on priority resources, challenges, and opportunities in rice production, while thematic analysis provided qualitative insights. Findings reveal climate change as a compounding challenge that disrupts planting cycles and exacerbates livelihood vulnerability. Financial and natural capital emerged as the most crucial factors influencing decision-making. Structural barriers constrain farmer agency, such as debt dependency, limited post-harvest access, and weak market linkages. Social capital, while underutilised, holds transformative potential for collective action and equitable value distribution. The results of this study underscore the need for targeted interventions, including governance frameworks that support food production, bioenergy investment, farmer capacity-building initiatives, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to integrate bioenergy solutions into existing agricultural systems.