Bio-energy
Bioenergy Provision within Agroforestry Systems in East Africa
Over 70% of the populations in Africa, or even more than 90% in rural areas, are said to depend on traditional biomass such as fuelwood and charcoal for energy. Expected increase in demand for energy due to rapid population growth and urbanization can further accelerate deforestation and increase vulnerability of African countries to risks caused by climate change, whose signs are already being observed in East Africa. Despite the critical importance, limited research has been implemented and little data is available on their production, consumption and markets to enable effective intervention.
In view of the magnitude of poverty and environmental problems caused by over-dependency on traditional biofuel, it is urgent to search for sustainable provision of biofuel in Africa. They include the identification of opportunities and constraints of domestication of non-traditional liquid biofuel feedstocks, including Jatropha curcas, Croton, and Castor. They also require the assessment of the sustainability of fuelwood/charcoal production and marketing. Biofuel provision within agroforestry system is expected to contribute to avoided deforestation and mitigation/adaptation of climate change through sequestration of carbon. At the same time, particularly in East Africa, where the majority of the economies are dependent on small-holder agriculture, it is urgent to evaluate the potential impacts of the introduction of biofuel plantations on poverty, food security and environment.
At ICRAF, Dr Cristel Munster examines agronomy aspects, while Dr Miyuki Iiyama assesses the socio-economic impacts of biofuel provision. In 2009-2010, the project aims to summarize socio-economic and environmental trade-off analyses of key oilseed crops in East Africa. At the same time, it aims to implement the agronomy/provenance trials for potential oilseed crops as well as the baseline survey on traditional solid biofuel for sustainability evaluation and for agroforestry options.
