Agrofuels in Sub-Saharan Africa: Decision-making Criteria for Sustainability - Implementing Environmental and Resource Management - page 197

17 Agrofuels in Sub-Saharan Africa:
Decision-making Criteria for Sustainability
Vincent Onyango
Department of Environmental Planning, Brandenburg University of Technology
(BTU), Cottbus, Germany
17.1 Introduction
Agrofuel crops are experiencing increasing interest globally, and recently, in Sub-
Saharan Africa (REN21 2010; FAO 2008b). The extent of land-use, investments,
scientific research, media coverage and political interest dedicated to agrofuels has
increased rapidly (Wade 2008; Biofuelwatch et al. 2007; von Braun and Pachauri
2006). The global production of agrofuels doubled between 2000 and 2005 (UN
2008) and investment reached 100 billion USD by 2010, up from 38.6 billion
USD in 2005 (REN21 2010). The drivers for agrofuels include the recent spike in
fossil oil prices, global warming and climate change, and the pursuit of rural de-
velopment and energy security (Mohamed 2007; FAO 2008b). Moreover, the lure
to earn money from Certified Emission Reductions through the Kyoto Protocol's
Clean Development Mechanism may be another impetus to grow agrofuel crops.
Growing agrofuel crops in Sub-Saharan African countries appears relatively at-
tractive because both land and labour are inexpensive, reducing capital and work-
ing costs, thereby boosting profitability (Knaup 2008). However, controversies
and concerns have arisen over the potential of adverse impacts of growing agro-
fuel crops on the natural environments and socio-economic welfare of Sub-
Saharan African countries (Vermeulen and Cotula 2010; ICRISAT 2007; IEA
2007; Biofuelwatch et al. 2007; von Braun and Pachauri 2006).
Following these concerns, Sub-Saharan Africa governments are in the process
of establishing agrofuel policies, plans, programmes and projects (PPPPs) that
promote sustainable development through effective integration of socio-economic
and environmental objectives (see GoK 2008; AFREPREN/FWD 2007; Mohamed
2007). However, the existing agrofuel PPPPs have been criticised as failing to
adequately integrate the socio-economic and environmental concerns, which
would ensure sustainability of the agrofuels sector, in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNEP
2009a; Biofuelwatch et al. 2007). This has largely been blamed on the lack of 'fit
for purpose' decision-making criteria, regarding determining the sustainability of
the agrofuels within the African context (UNEP 2009b; GoK/GTZ 2008; Mo-
hamed 2007). Consequently, this has made it especially difficult to make an in-