ROME, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- The growth in bioenergy needs to be carefully managed and coordinated, an official of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said here Tuesday.

    Potential conflicts between bioenergy production and the protection of the environment, sustainable development, food security of the rural poor and the economic development of countries supplying feedstock should be urgently addressed, said Alexander Muller, Assistant Director-General of FAO's Natural Resources Management and Environment Department.

    Muller made the remarks during the presentation of a report "A Review of the Current State of Bioenergy Development in G8 + 5 Countries" at the 20th World Energy Congress in Rome.

    "It's important to guarantee the livelihoods and well-being of the most vulnerable. We must ensure that the price of food does not impair the food security of the poor," he said.

    According to Muller, the report, released by the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), is a survey of the production of energy from biomass in G8 plus 5 countries, highlighting the advantages and the challenges posed by one of the future's most promising sources of alternative energy, such as biodiesel and ethanol.

    The GBEP is an international initiative established to implement commitments taken by the G8 nations, as well as China, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa, which aim at supporting wider, cost-effective biomass and biofuels deployment, particularly in developing countries.

    Bioenergy is forecast to satisfy 20 percent of global energy demand by 2030, rising to between 30 and 40 percent by 2060.