Energized: Policy innovation to power the transformation of Africa’s agriculture and food system

Abstract

Box 2: Smart bioenergy production While agriculture is a primary consumer of energy in Africa, it is also an important source of energy production. Crops such as sugarcane, maize, sorghum, and jatropha can be locally grown and used to generate bioenergy where appropriate technology is available, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels. And although the production of heat from bioenergy can be cost-competitive with fossil fuel alternatives, lower fossil fuel prices have substantially reduced its attractiveness. Similarly, the cost-effi ciency of power generation from biomass depends critically on the scale of an operation or farm as well as on the availability and quality of feedstock. However, in most cases the electrical effi ciency of the steam cycle tends to be lower than that for conventional fossil fuel plants. 23 Processing biomass for bioenergy can also provide a new source of income to smallholders. For example, in Ghana, a local women's group extracts oil from jatropha seeds and mixes it with diesel (70 percent plant oil with 30 percent diesel) both to fuel shea butter processing equipment and to replace kerosene used in lanterns. 24 More sustainable and effi cient use of bioenergy can also unlock the potential of the agriculture sector by attracting new and additional investments to raise agricultural productivity. Africa's bioenergy capacity has increased steadily, reaching 1.2 GW in 2016 and accounting for 3.1 percent of renewable capacity in Africa. 25 Across Africa, bagasse, the dry, pulpy, fi brous residue that remains after crushing sugarcane or sorghum stalks, provides up to 91 percent of the bioelectricity, particularly in Sudan, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. Furthermore, the production of biogas-electricity is also on the rise and several biogas programs are emerging across Africa, including in Mauritius,

Meat, milk and more: Policy innovations to shepherd inclusive and sustainable livestock systems in Africa

“…The risk is particularly high in Africa where many households lack access to reliable energy for refrigeration of perishable products. 162 Through the excessive use of antimicrobials in feeding farm animals and treating and preventing diseases, livestock may also be a source of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Pathogens that are exposed to antimicrobial drugs can develop AMR, which in turn threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an increasing number of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi in humans and animals.…”

“…347 Furthermore, the Malabo Montpellier Panel's 2019 report on energy provision to Africa's rural areas stresses the importance of off-grid and mini-grid solutions-such as solar electricity supplyto enable cold chains for meat, dairy, and vaccines or the use of mobile electric fences for lowercost grazing management. 348 Thus far, technology adoption among small livestock farmers and pastoralists is limited, primarily due to limited or no access and connectivity to the internet or other new technologies and services. And where technologies are accessible, they are often expensive or there is lack of technical know-how on how to operate them.…”