Sound Bioenergy Policies Could Help Lift West African Rural Areas Out of Poverty
New report shows that bioenergy can power sustainable rural development
For Immediate Release
Rome (October 16, 2008) —A new report released by the United Nations Foundation, the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development and the Energy and Security Group finds that bioenergy can provide significant economic and environmental opportunities for rural areas in
Biomass can also expand agricultural production across the UEMOA (the Economic and Monetary Union of West Africa) nations of
“This report takes on the twin challenges of energy and agriculture and explores how bioenergy crops and modern uses of biomass in rural areas of West Africa could play a role in alleviating poverty while protecting food production,” said Melinda Kimble, Senior Vice President with the UN Foundation. “It is vital that policies and technologies are developed and implemented to better use agricultural and forest residues. If used correctly, these energy feedstocks hold great potential for efficient and affordable locally-produced fuels and this can be done in a sustainable and responsible way that ensures the world’s most vulnerable populations have access to clean fuels and are not put at further risk.”
Commissioned by UEMOA and the Rural Hub for Western and
Better yields are essential in order to improve standards of living in UEMOA countries, since roughly 70% of the population depends on agricultural or forestry-related jobs. Conversely, only seven percent of the rural population has access to electricity, greatly limiting economic growth, the report finds.
“Access to affordable energy is a critical factor in the development of rural communities, and one that is often forgotten,” said Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Executive Director of the Rural Hub. “Bioenergy offers African farmers a unique opportunity to generate the energy that they need to grow food crops and improve agriculture productivity. With the right public policies in place and the blueprint for action included in the report, UEMOA countries can harness that potential and win the fight against both rural poverty and climate change.”
According to the report, key factors to guide sustainable bioenergy include improving agriculture and forest productivity, and protecting watersheds, which would also put governments in a better position to fight against climate change and cope with inevitable impacts. Traditional wood biomass production – 73% of primary energy used in the region – must be adapted to create more efficient and cleaner fuel. Bioenergy can be transformative for the region – greatly expanding electricity and energy access, creating more jobs and better income in rural communities and growth across national and regional economies. Innovative crop management, farmer training, and consistent investment are needed to improve agriculture productivity in this region. Land use, protection of small producers, infrastructure improvement, data collection, and women’s roles are some of the critical points which must be taken into account by governments in order to secure sustainability, the report found.
“Achieving the Millenium Development Goals demands well-integrated agricultural and energy policies if progress is to be sustained,” said Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. “It is my hope that this report provides a new view of the potential of agriculture to help millions of Africans get out of the dark and out of poverty.”
The full report and executive summary can be found online at http://www.unfoundation.org/press-center/publications/sustainable-bioenergy-report.html
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The Rural Hub for Western and
