Food production needs fuel too: perspectives on the impact of biofuels in southern Africa

Abstract

Southern Africa is faced with the complex challenge of achieving sustainable economic development and food and energy security while protecting the environment. The region is currently experiencing an energy crisis, a result in part because of global increases in crude oil prices and limited generating capacity in some countries. We examined the potential of biofuels to address the aforesaid problems and their role in the agroecological and socioeconomic systems in the region, highlighting the challenges to be overcome before biofuels can become an integral part of the regional socioeconomic dynamics. Major hurdles to biofuels establishment include relatively poor awareness of the potential and opportunities presented by biofuels, technology challenges, food insecurity vulnerability associated with the use of grains such as maize as feedstocks, potential conflict in resource allocation between food and fuel crops, and good governance and its impact on stability of food supply. Resource allocation and the balance between the need for food security and fuel is discussed in the context of selection of a crop matrix that does not compromise food security or limit development of the biofuels sector. While the use of maize for ethanol might enhance producer prices, it may contribute to high food inflation and political unrest. Sweet sorghum on the other hand, presents an opportunity to provide food and bioethanol without compromising food security. Biofuels have great potential in southern Africa, but there is a need to establish and nurture the development of capacity, in the value chain from production to consumption, to realise the benefits of biofuels in the region.

Implementation of palm biodiesel based on economic aspects, performance, emission, and wear characteristics

“…In most developing countries, high food prices pose a major challenge to the survival of poor people and may be caused by political disorder in recent years [85]. Approximately 85% of the changes in food prices in the world are caused by unreliable weather patterns, rising energy prices, and increasing food demand, whereas 15% of the changes are caused by ethanol production [86]. Poor people spend 75% of their income on food, but food prices are most volatile in developing countries [87].…”

“…Palm biodiesel could be providing great benefits; it is more producible in low agriculture lands and low energy is required for conversion [82]. Food production requires many factors, such as useful land, investment, water, infrastructure support, fertilizers, and labor [86]. CPO biodiesel can reduce 41% of exhaust emission than fossil fuel and works more efficiently as a carbon sink than rainforests [94].…”

The Bioethanol Industry in Sub-Saharan Africa: History, Challenges, and Prospects

“…The Zimbabwean Triangle Ethanol Plant began production in 1980, producing approximately 120,000 liters of bioethanol daily and 40 million liters annually for 12 years [3, 14, 20]. Sugar cane molasses was the main feedstock used, with the sugar cane being cultivated locally [3, 20].…”

Sustainable production of sweet sorghum for biofuel production through conservation agriculture in South Africa

“…Despite the wide choice of lignocellulosic crops, it is of the utmost importance to note that crops with multiple uses (food, feed, and biofuel) are preferred to those only used for biofuel production (Fernandes, Welch, & Gonçalves, 2010). The seeds can be used for food and/or feed, while the stalks can be used as a bioethanol feedstock (Chakauya, Beyene, & Chikwamba, 2009). The seeds can be used for food and/or feed, while the stalks can be used as a bioethanol feedstock (Chakauya, Beyene, & Chikwamba, 2009).…”

“…Since sweet sorghum is a multipurpose crop serving as a source of food, animal feed, and biofuel (Ratnavathi et al, 2011), it is a leading candidate biofuel crop. The seeds can be used for food and/or feed, while the stalks can be used as a bioethanol feedstock (Chakauya, Beyene, & Chikwamba, 2009).…”