NEWS AND EVENTS

12 January 2009

Joint UNECA and PAES Africa bioenergy potential Study

The joint UNECA and PAES preliminary study on Africa bioenergy potential and the application is completed. The study concluded that biotechnology offers new and unprecedented opportunities in the production of bioenergy. Biotechnology helps to facilitate conversion processes and also produce more drought, water logging, and disease resistant varieties that help minimize the high costs of agrochemicals, pesticides, and water. The application of tissue culture, adoption of zero tillage practices, and improved pest management - widely recognized in Africa, would go a long way in increasing the availability of tree and crops for bioenergy production while reducing land required for bioenergy. However, there are wide-ranging issues and applications, which need to be seen in the context of their effective contribution to increased energy and food production and environmental protection. For example, more research needs to be done to determine environmental benefits, which may be compromised by a reduced biodegradability, thus less emission reductions. It is also important to ensure that biotechnology is built into Africa’s indigenous genotypes of flora and fauna.