IN a world-wide race to develop energy sources that are seen as being ‘green’ - renewable and less greenhouse gas-intensive – many of the most basic questions surrounding bio-fuel sometimes remain unanswered.
These crucial questions hinge on the conflict between food and energy crops.
Currently, many bio-fuel stocks like maize, sugarcane, and soyabeans are also key sources of food for millions of people world-wide.
So far, fears have arisen owing to the fact that the production of crops for bio-energy use may also displace other food-related crops, thereby increase the cost while decreasing the availability of foodstuffs, including plant and animal-based foods.
But a new Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report entitled Making Integrated Food-Energy Systems says producing food and energy side-by-side may offer one of the best formulas for boosting the countries’ food and energy security while simultaneously reducing poverty.
Zambia is among the countries that are looking forward to transforming the energy sector by introducing the bio-energy products. In an effort to do this, Government through the Ministry of Energy and Water Development recently launched a feasibility study in bio-energy production in Zambia.
On February 18, this year, the feasibility study on the production of bio-energy was launched at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka with Energy Minister Kenneth Konga reiterating Government’s commitment to developing the bio-fuel industry in Zambia.
The study will include a comprehensive survey of the entire country, its topography, and climate, soil, social, environment and market conditions, infrastructure, legal framework and other issues that can possibly affect the sustainability and viability of producing bio-energy.
The finding of the feasibility study will be handed over to Government in September next year.
“This process is a firm step in our journey to implementing the various policy objectives that hinge on reducing the dependence on imported fuel and ensuring security of supply and increasing the available energy options,” Mr Konga said.
Once completed, the results of the study would help in identifying suitable areas for sustainable cultivation of the main raw material used in bioenergy production.
The launch of a feasibility study is one of the activities that form part of a co-operative agreement between Zambia and Brazil.
Brazilian Embassy representative Claudia Maciel says according to the Brazilian experience, biofuels are a blessing.
In the last three decades of the existence of biofuels in Brazil, biofuel has been a true engine for economic and social development and an important factor of energy security.
“For more than 30 years, Brazil has invested in biofuel and its benefits are visible now. Brazil is a good example that biofuels are the best option to the current energy crisis in developing countries,” Ms Maciel says.
The study will be conducted by a Brazilian firm called Fundacao Getulio Vargas.
The launch of the feasibility study will give way for baseline information for the implementation of policies, regulatory framework and strategies on bioenergy in Zambia.
Historically, the food and energy economies were separate, but now with the need to develop renewable energy sources and the massive capacity to convert grain into ethanol, that is changing.
Suddenly the world is facing an epic moral and political issue: Should grain be used to fuel cars or feed people? The controversy seems to centre on this question.
But the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) believes the country is well positioned to engage in many agricultural activities including the growing of energy crops.
Chief agriculture officer John Musanya says the climate and land available in the country is highly favourable and can support the undertaking of many activities like the growing of energy crops.
For developing countries such as Zambia, the biofuels industry and the associated upstream and downstream industries have hidden potential to transform their economies.
“Plants, especially perennials, used to produce feedstock for liquid biofuels, act as carbon sinks and developing countries like Zambia growing such crops may earn cash through their sale of emissions credits to polluting industries in developed countries,” Mr Musanya says.
The geo-disruptions in fossil oil supply and the rising fuel prices have negatively affected security of supply of fuels and made biofuels become increasingly attractive.
Internally, liquid bio-fuels industries have great potential to enhance security of the household and national economies, especially for rural communities where feed stocks are to be grown.
On the basis of rainfall, over three quarters of the country falls under favourable rainfall of 800mm and above and Zambia’s water resources are numerous to support irrigation of the energy crops.
“The climate, water and land of Zambia are more than what energy crops require to be well established.
Last season the country posted surplus production of most field crops.
Besides, the country already produces enough sugar for local consumption and export.
There is potential for producing bio-ethanol from molasses and more with sugar,” Mr Musanya says.
He says the agriculture sector has received attention by Government through support given to different categories of farmers who may be engaged in different agricultural enterprises including growing of energy crops such as sugarcane, sweet sorghum and cassava (for bio-ethanol) and castor, jatropha and palm (for bio-diesel).
In addition, the government has designated several strategic areas termed as farm blocs (Mkushi and Nansanga) to promote agricultural activities with the provision of services and upgraded infrastructure.
The launch of the feasibility study on the production of bio-energy is in line with global efforts to promote renewable energy sources and management of climate change.
And according to the FAO report, farming systems that combine crops that can be used for food and fuel can help reduce poverty and boost food and energy security.
The report uses specific examples from Africa, Asia and Latin America as well as from some developed countries to show how food and energy crops can be successfully integrated. Integrated systems offer numerous benefits to poor rural communities.
FAO assistant director-general for natural resources Alexander Müller says with these integrated systems, farmers can save money because they do not have to buy costly fossil fuel, nor chemical fertiliser if they use the slurry from biogas production.
“For example, poor farmers can use leftovers from rice crops to produce bio-energy, or in an agro-forestry system can use debris of trees used to grow crops like fruits, coconuts or coffee beans for cooking,” he says, noting that other types of food and energy systems used byproducts from livestock for bio-gas production.
“They can then use the savings to buy necessary inputs to increase agricultural productivity, such as seeds adapted to changing climatic conditions – an important factor given that a significant increase in food production in the next decades will have to be carried out under conditions of climate change,” Mr Mueller says.
Food and Agricultural Organisation also notes several other benefits offered by integrated food-energy systems. They are beneficial to women as they can eliminate the need to leave their crops to go in search of firewood.
According to the FAO report, women in developing countries can also significantly lower health risks by reducing the use of traditional wood fuel and cooking devices. Some 1.9 million people worldwide die each year due to exposure to smoke from cooking stoves.
Integrating food and energy production can also be an effective approach to mitigating climate change, especially emissions stemming from land use change.
“By combining food and energy production, integrated food-energy systems reducethe likelihood that land will be converted from food to energy production, since one needs less land to produce food and energy,” FAO stated.
Having an integrated system often leads to increased land and water productivity, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing food security, it added.
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