Biofuels in Africa: Impacts on ecosystem services, biodiversity and human well-being

Abstract

Biofuels are a type of fuels derived from solid biomass through different chemical and biological processes. Currently, liquid biofuels (e.g. bioethanol and biodiesel) produced from edible plants or animal fats are by far the most popular biofuel types for transport purposes in the US, Brazil, EU, China and India. Global biofuel production has increased more than fivefold in the last decade and is expected to double by 2020, mainly through expansion in developing regions such as Brazil, China, India and Sub-Saharan Africa. Since the mid-2000s, there has been a growing interest in biofuel production and use across Africa. This has been due to policy priorities related to energy security and economic development. For example, high petroleum prices, fuel insecurity (particularly in the interior of the continent), foreign exchange savings and the potential for economic and rural development have all influenced, in varied degrees, countries across Africa to consider biofuel production. In contrast to some developed countries, environmental concerns such as the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the improvement of ambient air quality do not seem to have been a direct driver of biofuel expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, despite the recent interest from investors, several African counties were lacking appropriate policies for promoting and regulating biofuel expansion. Jatropha (for biodiesel), sugarcane (for ethanol) and molasses (for ethanol) have been the biofuel feedstocks that have attracted the most interest across Africa, dominating proposed biofuel investments in the continent. Other feedstocks such as cassava, palm oil, sweet sorghum, tropical sugarbeets, canola oil and sunflower oil have been identified as promising but, to date, their contribution has been much lower.