Biofuels, Land Grabbing and Food Security in Africa

Biofuels, Land Grabbing and Food Security in Africa

Energy crisis and climate change have generated global demands for alternative non-fossil fuel sources. This has led to a rapid increase of investments in production of liquid biofuels based on agricultural feed stocks such as sugar cane. Most African governments see biofuels as a potential for incr...

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Bibliographic Details
Other Authors: Havnevik, Kjell (Editor), Matondi, Prosper B. (Editor), Beyene, Atakilte (Editor)
Format: Electronic Book Chapter
Language:English
Published: Uppsala; London The Nordic Africa Institute and Zed Books (Bloomsbury) 2011
Series:Africa Now
Subjects:
Social impact of environmental issues
Development studies
Africa
Biomass energy
Fuels
Natural resources
Renewable energy sources
Energy crops
Industrial crops
Foreign investment
Agricultural investment
Food security
Land use
Land acquisition
Rural areas
Rural population
Smallholders
Agricultural land
Food supply
Land tenure
Agricultural policy
Property rights
Africa south of Sahara
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Summary:Energy crisis and climate change have generated global demands for alternative non-fossil fuel sources. This has led to a rapid increase of investments in production of liquid biofuels based on agricultural feed stocks such as sugar cane. Most African governments see biofuels as a potential for increasing agricultural productivity and export incomes and thus strengthening their national economies, improving energy balances and rural employment. At the same time climate change may be addressed through reduction of green house gas emissions. There are, however, a number of uncertainties mounting that challenge this scenario. Using in-depth African case studies this book addresses this knowledge gap by examining the impacts of large-scale biofuel production on African agriculture in regard to vital land outsourcing and food security issues. The surge for African biofuels has also opened space for private investors both domestic and external to multiply and network 'independently' of the state. The biofuel expansion thus generates new economic alliances and production relations, resulting in new forms of inclusions and exclusions within the rural population. An essential book for anyone wishing to understand the startling impact of biofuels and land outsourcing on Africa.
Physical Description:1 electronic resource (230 p.)
ISBN:9781350218673
9781848138803
9781848138797
9781848138780
9781848138810
Access:Open Access

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