Bioenergy done right for jobs and economic growth in Africa: dealing with land, biofuels and food security issues

Abstract

A few years ago many analysts became aware of the bioenergy production potentials of the African agricultural sector to foster economic growth and create jobs. Unleashing such potential however requires stakeholders to deal beforehand with issues related to land, biofuels, food, and environmental policies. The objective of this study is to explore the conditions under which African countries can reap the benefits of the new bio-economy without jeopardizing food security and environmental quality. The study shows that land policies that set land rental at its marginal cost to businesses, biofuel policies that create demand through biofuels’ mandate, and environmental policies that encourage best management practices must be first put in place. Subsequently, African countries must participate to the capital investment in the biofuel sector.

Acknowledgement

This work started when the author was a senior researcher at the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) in Milan, Italy. The author therefore acknowledges material support from FEEM. The author also wishes to thank Mr Aziafo K. Magnon and all the participants at the workshop on Natural Resources, Environment, and Economic Development at the University of Lome for their comments on earlier drafts of this paper. The usual disclaimer applies.