title: Bioenergy and African transformation.
abstract: Among the world's continents, Africa has the highest incidence of food insecurity and poverty and the highest rates of population growth. Yet Africa also has the most arable land, the lowest crop yields, and by far the most plentiful land resources relative to energy demand. It is thus of interest to examine the potential of expanded modern bioenergy production in Africa. Here we consider bioenergy as an enabler for development, and provide an overview of modern bioenergy technologies with a comment on application in an Africa context. Experience with bioenergy in Africa offers evidence of social benefits and also some important lessons. In Brazil, social development, agricultural development and food security, and bioenergy development have been synergistic rather than antagonistic. Realizing similar success in African countries will require clear vision, good governance, and adaptation of technologies, knowledge, and business models to myriad local circumstances. Strategies for integrated production of food crops, livestock, and bioenergy are potentially attractive and offer an alternative to an agricultural model featuring specialized land use. If done thoughtfully, there is considerable evidence that food security and economic development in Africa can be addressed more effectively with modern bioenergy than without it. Modern bioenergy can be an agent of African transformation, with potential social benefits accruing to multiple sectors and extending well beyond energy supply per se. Potential negative impacts also cut across sectors. Thus, institutionally inclusive multi-sector legislative structures will be more effective at maximizing the social benefits of bioenergy compared to institutionally exclusive, single-sector structures.
authors.affiliation: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH USA.
authors.forename: Lee R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Lynd
authors.affiliation: New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sow
authors.affiliation: Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Annie Fa
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Chimphango
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis Ab
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.affiliation: São Paulo Research Foundation São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.|Physics Institute, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Brito Cruz
authors.affiliation: New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Mosad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elmissiry
authors.affiliation: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laser
authors.affiliation: New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ibrahim A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Mayaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Economics, University of São Paulo, ESALQ, Piracicaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia Afd
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Ah
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.|Water Institute, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gideon M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Wolfaardt
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Willem H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van Zyl