Agrofuels in Sub-Saharan Africa: Decision-making Criteria for Sustainability - Implementing Environmental and Resource Management - page 200

Currently, only first generation agrofuels are commercially available; and are con-
sidered damaging as the feedstock can be used in the animal and human food
chains. Additionally, they can directly compete for production factors with food
crops (GRAIN 2008; Holt-Gimenez 2007). The other categories of agrofuels are
mainly in development and are not yet available at a commercial and global scale
(REN21 2010).
17.3 The Concerns over Agrofuels
Several benefits of agrofuels have been stated, albeit overlapping in some aspects,
and include the following (Arungu-Olende 2007; ICRISAT 2007; von Braun and
Pachauri 2006):
• Potential to reduce demand for fossil fuels, greater energy security, and a sus-
tainable fuel supply for the future;
• Reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and particulates;
• Increased rural development through job creation; higher farmer prices and in-
comes, alleviating poverty;
• Dampening effect on crude oil prices (Quaiattini 2008);
• Providing more lead time for the world to develop solutions to excess green-
house gases emissions and global warming.
In contrast, controversies and concerns over the sustainable production of agrofuel
crops have also been presented, as follows:
• Demand for agrofuels has resulted in higher food prices, globally and in devel-
oping countries, and causing agflation i.e. a hike in general prices due to the in-
crease of price of agricultural produce (Learner 2007; Knaup 2008);
• Nearly 290 million more people, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa, pushed into
poverty and hunger by increasing food prices (Oxfam 2008b);
• Nearly 60 million indigenous people at risk of eviction from their lands to make
way for agrofuel crops (UN 2007a);
• The complete life cycle of agrofuels produces more greenhouse gases than they
reduce (Crutzen et al . 2008; Searchinger et al . 2007; Fargione et al . 2008);
• Agrofuels are not economically viable, as they rely on subsidies and artificial
incentives, and their long-term marketability is in doubt (Learner 2007; Knaup
2008).
In addition to the above concerns, first generation agrofuels have been stated to be
capable of reliably supplying only a small percentage of our energy requirements
(Grunwald 2008). Also pertinent to the Sub-Saharan context, is the concern that
the structure of global grains and agrofuels markets are themselves non-
sustainable, inequitable and a threat to food security and economic welfare (Ox-
fam 2008b). This is based on the recognition that more than 50% of the global
grain and agrofuel trade is controlled by a cartel of multinational firms, with sub-