The African Bioeconomy Comes into Focus

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February 10, 2023

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by Gerard J. Ostheimer and Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) GOOD NEWS -- Steady growth of the African bioeconomy is a “good news” story hiding in plain sight. Recent commercial successes combined with ambitious investments are helping to bring a vision for Africa’s bioeconomy into focus:

Growth of the African middle class is driving demand for clean cooking fuels that is now pulling in imports of American corn starch ethanol. KOKO Networks is growing an ethanol cooking market in Nairobi by ingenious deployment of ethanol “ATMs”.
Continued growth of ethanol cooking markets combined with an uptick in blending for road transport could spur domestic ethanol production;
ENI is making investments and implementing off-take agreements that should foster the evolution of a vibrant African bio- and renewable diesel sector; and
Modern international airport hubs – and ongoing leadership from Boeing, RSB, and WWF South Africa – are increasing regional interest in sustainable aviation fuels.

A SHIFTING INTERNATIONAL LANDSCAPE

Perennial threats to food, energy, and water security combined with old-fashioned geo-politics is creating a sense of urgency and emboldening action on the international stage. Events over the next two years offer tailwinds for a new made-in-Africa approach to agriculture and energy:

India is using its 2023 G20 Presidency to advance global dialog on biofuels, including the potential for increasing biofuel production in the Global South;
Brazil assumes the G20 Presidency in 2024 and will continue the drive promoting biofuel production and use in Africa and across the Global South;
The United Nation’s International Development Organization created a government-led International Ethanol Cooking Alliance to accelerate market growth for ethanol cooking in sub-Saharan Africa;
Seven East African countries supported by the Stockholm Environment Institute prepared and launched the Regional Bioeconomy Strategy for East Africa that will catalyze new policies for sustainable, bio-based and inclusive economic growth.

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The African experience in telecommunications, where the continent leap-frogged straight into the cellular world may offer clues on similar novel routes to agricultural modernization, food security, rural development, and a multi-faceted bioeconomy. African leaders are resisting pressures to slow their economic growth despite pressure from climate activists to put climate change mitigation first. We believe they will focus on improving the lives of their citizens with a wide range of solutions that offer successful outcomes for their specific circumstances and that bio-based solutions will be part of the mix.

Across sub-Saharan Africa, one of the greatest challenges is access to clean cooking. Cooking with ethanol is ultra-clean and cost competitive. Recent success marketing ethanol cooking combined with potential demand for 20 billion gallons of ethanol suggests that the cooking fuel will be a major driver of the African bioeconomy. Countries like Kenya and Nigeria may well tackle basic issues of clean cooking at the same time as mobilizing first-generation and second-generation biofuels for transportation. In addition, Africa’s bio-development partners may come from new global centers, like India, as much as from Europe and the U.S. Africa will likely surprise bio-aficionados with its own paths to success in true sustainable growth. READ MORE