Kenya: Biofuels Likely to Boost Energy But Increase Hunger, Critics Warn

Though biofuels are being touted as the solution to Africa’s growing energy crisis, not everybody is happy with the rising demand for biofuel products.

Already, some environmentalists have raised concern about the potential threat to the continent’s weak food security.
Although the use of bioenergy is yet to take root in Africa, there are fears that farmers might shift from growing food crops whose prices have remained low to biofuels which are currently attracting high prices in the world market.

In Europe, for example, a whole new economy is developing, where huge investments are being made to turn cereal surpluses into fuels to be used in the motor industry.

In fact, DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen are among the major industries promoting the use of flexible-fuel vehicles – which can use synthetic fuel derived from crops and organic material as well as petroleum or diesel. The move is meant to reduce dependence on fossil fuels like petrol and diesel.

It is the new technology that has left environmentalists a worried lot. They argue that food aid for Africa’s impoverished population may not be available in future as surplus agricultural production in the developed world will be diverted to produce bioenergy for the motor industry in Europe and North America.

According to Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), though bioenergy has the potential of improving the wellbeing of people in rural areas, some types may compromise food security and also cause environmental damage.

While local production of biofuels on a small scale of can boost local energy production, as is the case with ethanol, the international market can completely destroy available opportunities for sustainable production.

AllAfrica