Sustainable Development and Bioeconomic Prosperity in Africa

1. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 8 (11), pp. 2397-2408, 3 June, 2009
Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2009 Academic Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Sustainable development and bioeconomic prosperity
in Africa: Bio-fuels and the South African gateway
Dorsamy (Gansen) Pillay1,2* and Edgar J. Da Silva3,
1
Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology,
P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
2*
Discipline of Microbiology, School of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture,
University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa.
3
Former Director, Division of Life Sciences, UNESCO, Paris 75015, France.
Accepted 14 April, 2009
African countries along with the co-founders of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
must use biotechnology as a valuable tool for socio-economic and sustainable development. National,
regional and international consultations and debates ensure timely attention of peer-reviewed
guidelines concerning significant issues like bio-risks, bio-safety, and bio-security that impinge on
daily human existence and welfare. High–cost fossil fuel prices and national security concerns have
sparked interest in bio-fuels in continental Africa. In brief, Africa is taking the lead in creating its own
biotechnology agenda and roadmap to socioeconomic and sustainable development. The emergence of
“Rainbow Biotech” serves as a catalytic portal amongst others for collaborative effort and continental
development.
Key words: Bio-fuels, economic development, biotechnology, South Africa, Africa.
INTRODUCTION
The Republic of South Africa (RSA) has drawn attention, resources, minimize pollution of the environment, and im-
through its visionary and pioneering involvement in co- prove the quality of human, animal and plant life. Ghana,
founding with Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, and Senegal, a Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe - sugar-
strategic New Partnership for Africa’s Development producing countries- are exploring the option of large-
(NEPAD). This partnership responds to a mandate of the scale production of bio-ethanol (Table 1). The potential of
th
Organization of African Unity’s 37 Summit in Lusaka, Jatropha curcas, an alternative bio-fuel source, has
Zambia, July 2001 calling for a socio-economic sustain- enthused bioeconomists and policy-decision-makers in
able pathway for the emergence of continental Africa into Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar,
the mainstreams of regional cooperation and international Malawi and South Africa.
governance concerning biotechnology [Box 1]. Energy security is a crucial element in sustaining
Several African countries are pursuing independent development and technological progress in Africa. The
biotechnological options to reduce their dependence on purpose of this review, therefore, is to provide an over-
fossil fuel energy imports to conserve foreign-exchange view of biofuel activities in Africa, the potential for
economic development and the concerns with the use of
certain food crops as feedstock for bio-ethanol production.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: gansen@dut.ac.za. Tel: 00 27
31 3732576. GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOS),
GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) CROPS AND BIO-
Dr. da Silva passed on after co-authoring this manuscript. This FUELS
manuscript is dedicated to him for his iconic contributions in
biotechnology to developing countries. GMOs and GM crops unite and divide African decision

2. 2398 Afr. J. Biotechnol.
BOX 1 NEPAD
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
-To eradicate poverty;
-To place African countries, individually and collectively on the path of sustainable growth and
development;
-To halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process and to enhance Africa’s full
and beneficial integration into the global economy; and
-To accelerate the empowerment of women and children.
THE PRINCIPLES OF NEPAD ACTION
-Good governance as the basic requirement for peace, security and sustainable political and
socio-economic development;
-African ownership and leadership with participation by all sectors of society;
-Anchoring the development of Africa through its own resources and the resourcefulness of its
people;
-Partnership between and amongst all African people;
-Acceleration of regional and continental integration;
-Promotion of the competitiveness of the African continent and its countries;
-Construction of a new international partnership that reflects the peer-equal relationship
between Africa and the developed world; and
-Ensurance that all partnerships with NEPAD are linked to the UN Millennium Development
Goals and Targets.
Source: http://www.nepad.org/2005/files/inbrief.php
makers and researchers in Africa. Whilst genetically tiatives, have now adopted a regional five-year plan of
modified crops are commercially produced in South action for increasing food production through biotechno-
Africa, an informal ban is in place in Zambia. Several logy. Much has been written about the pros and cons of
West African countries, fiercely proud of their national ini- the introduction of GMOs and GM crops into the African

3. Pillay and Da Silva 2399
Table 1. Bio-fuel production in Africa*.
Bioethanol Production Biodiesel Production (ML) and
Country (ML) and Feedstock Feedstock
Kenya 3 ML; Sugarcane
Ghana 6 ML. Sugarcane
Malawi 6 ML; Sugarcane
South Africa 416 ML Sugarcane B and B3 type; Jatropha species
Zimbabwe 6 ML; Sugarcane
*Extracted and adapted from Dufey (2006).
continent. Debate at times is fierce and divisive
notwithstanding that mother nature has influenced the Central hypothesis: The Jatropha System
transformation of then wild wheat into the biotech wheat creates a positive reciprocity between energy
of today since 10 000 BC. Nevertheless, issues such as production and environment/food production –
the longstanding ethical arguments of prioritizing “Food Henning (1996).
(Needs) over Fuel” in deference to current “Bio-fuel
(Needs) over Food” cannot be glossed over. One such in- Jatropha seeds contain about 35% of non-edible oil.
stance has been the use of sorghum normally used to Though it is widely used in traditional folk medicine in
produce beer the average human’s elixir of recreation be- many parts of West Africa as a laxative by rural low-
ing channeled to produce a fossil-fuel substitute income communities, its use is discouraged and even
(Hazelhurst, 2007; Mayet, 2007). considered as illegal. In Benin and Madagascar, oil from
Jatropha has been used to manufacture medical soap.
Savon de Marseille. Already, sub-Saharan Africa is
BIO-FUELS AND ENERGY SECURITY IN AFRICA considered as a major geo-source for bio-energy trade
and regional development and production of bio-fuels
Energy security (bio or fossil origin) like food security in (Johnson and Matsika, 2006). African expectations are
Africa is a crucial element in sustaining development and that Africa will be the new Bio-fuel continent (Monkey,
technological progress in Africa (Leuenberger and 2007).
Wohlgemuth, 2006). Some 39 least developed countries Aspects of development benefit from investment in the
[LDCs] in the African continent face the never-ending use of the Jatropha system. These are: [i] the use of re-
problems of energy and food insecurities. In one case the newable energy, [ii] soil improvement and erosion control
bread-basket of southern Africa has been transformed [iii] promotion of women, and [iv] emergence of a sus-
into the bread bowl of the region. Traditional biomass tainable way of life for village farmers through genera-tion
fuels available on an insecure and non-sustainable basis of bio-economic resources coming from innovative rural
help meet the energy and food cooking requirements of bio-industries and markets. Moreover, farmers have pro-
virtually all African LDCs in Africa (Box 2). tected their gardens and food crops through the aesthetic
Trees and crops are greening the Sahara (Polgreen, hedge-use of J. curcas as a natural ornamental living
2007). Farmers in the Koloma Baba village in the Tahoua fence that protects the environment and domestic farm-
region of Niger use simple agricultural practices. Pits in land property. Jatropha, described as the ‘Cinderella of
plots of land are filled with manure just prior to a rainfall. the plant world’ by Palmer (2007) can be one of the solu-
The resulting slurry aids regeneration of soil fertility and tions to problems of energy poverty in Africa. With
conversion of barren land into an area of dense increasing worldwide interest in this non-food human and
vegetation that with newly planted trees and crops that animal crop, the possibilities are exciting. Jatropha oil
feed the economic, energy, and employment markets of can be used as a diesel substitute for rural electrification
the village. Amongst the new crop plantations, Jatropha and transport. Its vigorous growth and root system
curcas, a Latin American plant, widespread throughout protects against soil erosion. Net carbon dioxide (CO2)
the arid and semiarid tropical regions of the world, fea- emissions from the Jatropha cycle are zero. It can be the
tures prominently. A member of the Euphorbiaceae, this flagship of socio-economic development in the LDCs of
ornamental plant naturalised in many tropical areas is a Africa. The expanding spurt of activity (Tables 2 and 3)
drought resistant perennial living up to 50 years and in harnessing this green gold throughout Central and
growing on marginal soils. An inedible plant for humans Southern Africa is transforming the continent’s “hard-
and animals, the plant has spread from Mozambique scrabbled ground” face into a fertile vegetation layer that
throughout the different regions of sub-Saharan Africa. greens desert land in Niger (Polgreen, 2007). J. curcas,

4. 2400 Afr. J. Biotechnol.
Box 2. Food Situation in African Regions
A. Percentage of population undernourished in African regions
Region Percentage undernourished
1969-71 1979-81 1990-92 1996-98
Sub-Saharan Africa 34 37 35 34
Near East and North Africa 25 9 8 10
B: African countries obtaining 70% or more of the diet from cereals, roots and tubers (1996 –
1998)
Central Africa Eastern Africa
Democratic Republic of Congo (75) Eritrea (78)
Ethiopia (79)
West Africa Southern Africa
Benin (74) Lesotho (80)
Burkina Faso (75) Madagascar (74)
Ghana (75) Malawi (74)
Mali (73) Namibia (79)
Niger (74) Zambia (79)
Togo (77)
th
Source: FAO corporate repository --- Assessment of The World Food Security Situation, 27 Session,
Rome, 28 May - 1 June 2001:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/003/Y0147E/Y0147E00.htm
drought-resistant and frost hardy thrives in Zambia and pollution whilst offering impressive environment-friendly
Zimbabwe and is ideal for production of bio-diesel qualities across the spectrum of domestic activities to
products. those ranging from the industrial sector. The benefits of
Use of natural, renewable and biodegradable bio-diesel investment in J. curcas are multiple. These range from
and bio-fuels reduce the risks of groundwater and soil eradication of the poverty of job opportunities, the em-

5. Pillay and Da Silva 2401
Table 2. Bio-fuel activities in Africa*.
Country Activity/goal Socio-economic benefits and
opportunities
Angola Joint Brazilian (Petrobras) - Italian institutes new source of
(Eni Spa) - Angola initiative income and job opportunities
tapping vast potential of biofuel for Angolan farmers and
production. researchers via South-North-
3-partner cooperative benefits are: South cooperation. Brazilian
reinforcement of South-South partner provides technical
shared technical knowledge; expertise; Italian partner
North-South teamwork ensuring provides financial resources
biofuel security via Euro-African- for construction of biodiesel
South American partnership; and plant and Angolan partner
elimination of Angolan rural provides investment openings
poverty. for biofuel production and
With Portugal a biodiesel plant near export to financial partner.
Ambriz in the Bengo province Opening of new labor
using oil from the African oil palm markets and rural industries.
is scheduled to start in 2008.
Burkina Faso Burkina Faso, landlocked nation in West Africa Development of exchange program to
enters partnership with Taiwan, China for the train Burkinabese students in Taiwan
production of sweet sorghum based-ethanol. to use sweet sorghum for ethanol
production.
Cameroon Biodiesel production from palm oil Development of oil palm
to develop a new biofuel plantations for generation of
foreign-exchange market. income and new labor markets.
Democratic Biodiesel production from palm oil Production of biodiesel from
Republic of is envisaged through a Spanish palm oil in line with feasibility
Congo enterprise ‘Aurantia’ to build 4 oil studies dealing with
palm mills. logistics, labor opportunities,
and environment- friendly
infrastructural inputs.
Ethiopia Ethiopia-UK collaboration from 2005 results in Reduction in rural poverty
the first operational Jatropha nursery. through creation of
employment opportunities.
Equatorial Development of methanol plant on Bioko Production at a gas-fired
Guinea island. power station to supply high-
grade electricity.
Ghana Oil palm production - Focus on development of
establishment of the Bio-fuel regulatory protocols for biofuel
Implementation Committee in 2005. production, use of biodiesel and
bioalcohol as substitutes for
fossil-fuel imports.
Kenya In 2006, half a million Jatropha Focus on halting the onset
seedlings planted in the Eastern, of desertification and aiding
Rift Valley and Nyanza Provinces. reforestation activities.
Fossil-fuel substitution in Kenya using biogas. Development of capacity
building in fuel substitution through a
micro-financing approach in Kenyan
schools.

6. 2402 Afr. J. Biotechnol.
Table 2. Contd.
Mali Mali-FolkCenter Fuels from Women produce locally
Agriculture in Communal biodiesel to run posho (corn
Technology (FACT Foundation) in meal) mills and produce soaps,
Eindhoven, Netherlands; and cosmetics and biofertilizers to
the Regional Economic strengthen rural bioeconomic
Commission for West Asia (ECOWAS). prosperity.
Malawi The Biodiesel Agricultural Benefits: savings in foreign
Association encourages farmers exchange expenses;
to strengthen the energy sector minimization of pollution of
through the planting of Jatropha the environment; and
curcas. instituting employment and
income generation activities.
Mozambique Joint Mozambique- Norway Focus on production of
collaboration in 2006 on African bioethanol from sugarcane; of
Green Conference “Mozambique biodiesel from copra seed oil,
BioFuels” highlights Mozambique cotton seed oil, sunflower
strategic location as gateway to seed oil, and Jatropha curcas
the landlocked countries of to reduce foreign exchange
Malawi, Swaziland, Zimbabwe expenses; minimize pollution
and Zambia. of the environment; and
expand labor and income
generation activities.
Namibia A Bio-Oil Energy committee Development of an
oversees plantation of about environmental-friendly
63,000 hectares of the Jatropha biofuel.
bush by 2013.
Niger Reclamation of desert land through Simple innovative village
innovative agricultural practices. agricultural practices fuel
rural energy and feed markets.
South Africa Development of a Jatropha curcas Reduce dependence on high-
nursery to produce biodiesel in the cost fossil fuels in the
North West Province. transportation sector.
On-stream production by Ethanol Use of algae as a feedstock
Africa of biofuel at South Africa’s for biofuels production.
first bioethanol plant in Bothaville State-of-the art and
in the Free State built by a German awareness conferences on the
enterprise. beneficial uses of biofuels
Development of new technology to [http://www.africanbiofuels.
produce biodiesel. co.za/Press.pdf].
Organization of “African Biofuels” Reduction in dependence
conferences aimed at helping the African on fossil-fuels in the
continent on the merits and demerits of biofuel transportation sector.
use as an alternative to reliance on fossil-fuel
imports.
Promotion of liquid biofuels in the City of Cape
Town.
Fiat will launch its Brazilian-built flex-fuel Uno
in South Africa in late 2007 which runs on
gasoline, ethanol or a combination of the two
fuels as displayed at the Durban Auto Show
[Automotive World - March 27, 2007].

7. Pillay and Da Silva 2403
Table 2. Contd.
Sudan Jatropha -widely encountered in Mainly used as a medicinal
the Bahr El Gazal, Bahr El Jebel, plant due to its molluscicidal
Kassala, Khartoum, and Kordofan States. properties.
Tanzania Transition to Jatropha biofuels is Reduction of dependence on
in a nascent stage. fossil-fuel imports and
developing ancillary rural industries.
Uganda Jatropha grown in rural areas of Reinforces and improves
the Karamoja region is an women’s’ welfare and their
ideal bioresource for production of participation in rural governance.
biodiesel ; Feasibility study shows technical collaboration with
molasses are an uneconomical India and Mali is foreseen.
feedstock which is used to produce Raw materials used for soap
local gin --Uganda Waragi. and lubricant manufacture
A flower farm in Mukono in offer new employment
Central Uganda has begun opportunities in financing
producing biodiesel using Jatropha Mukono’s district markets.
curcas. Facilitating access through
Provision of energy services in biofuel energy use derived
rural areas. from Multi Functional Platforms (Doelle
and DaSilva, 2007a).
Zambia In the central province of Mkushi, Jatropha is sustainable agriculture of Jatropha
planted to produce biodiesel. About 300,000 crops helps in poverty alleviation.
small-scale farmers of the National Self- empowerment for farmers,
Association for Peasant and Small-Scale provision of new employment
Farmers of Zambia are expected to grow opportunities, and conservation of
some 150,000 hectares of Jatropha. valuable foreign-exchange reserves.
Promotion of bio-energy use in Zambia and
establishment of a bio-oil processing plant in
Kabwe aids national economic progress.
Currently, a total of 400,000 Jatropha plants
are being grown by 5,000 farmers in the
Chibombo and Kapiri Mposhi districts.
Zimbabwe Jatropha curcas (Mujirimono) is a alternative to fossil-fuel used
cash crop for biodiesel production. in the transportation sector.
A National Biodiesel Feedstock Improvement of Zimbabwe's
Production Programme focuses on energy security through annual
achieving self-sufficiency in contribution of 360 000 tons
use of biofuels through Jatropha of Jatropha curcas seeds for
curcas plantations. processing into 110 million
The National Oil Company of litres of biodiesel by 2010.
Zimbabwe (NOCZIM) is set to create national employment
grow 25,000 Jatropha plant opportunities for research,
seedlings to distribute to farmers production, and processing of
for the 2006-2007 season. biodiesel.
Regional initiatives
Common Fourth COMESA Business Forum Reduction in the dependence
Market for recommends investment in on fossil-fuels through use of
Eastern and biofuels [ Final Communiqué, liquid biofuels in the
Southern May 18 - 19, 2007; Document transportation sector.
Africa CBF/IPPSD/1, May2007;
(COMESA) Original English].

8. 2404 Afr. J. Biotechnol.
Table 2. Contd.
Economic Focus on poverty reduction and the Focus on health, rural
Community development of national and development, and small-scale
of West African regional economic infrastructure. enterprises that contribute to
States (ECOWAS) national and regional bioeconomic prosperity.
Economic Focus on creation of an awareness Focus on rural development
Community of the potential benefits of using and small-scale reduction in
of Central clean and green biofuels. dependence on the use of
African States (ECCAS) fossil-derived fuels.
Desert A collaborative effort convened by International An answer to eradication of the twin scourges
Margins Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ---poverty and environmental degradation
Programme (ICRISAT) that unites 9African countries with desert reinforcement of rural energy, food and
margins that ring the heart of Africa: Botswana, market enterprises in disadvantaged and
(DMP) Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Niger, poverty-prone non-urban and nomadic
Senegal, South Africa and Zimbabwe. communities.
Southern Assessment of economic benefits accruing from Feasibility study for the production and use of
African production of biofuels in the SADC region – biofuels – Straight or Recycled vegetable oils
Development Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the [SVO or RVO] in the SADC region as an
Congo (since 8 September 1997), Lesotho, answer to the
Community
Madagascar (since 18 August 2005), Malawi, reduction of dependence on
(SADC)
Mauritius (since 28 August 1995), Mozambique, high-cost imported fossil fuels
Namibia (since 31 March 1990 ), Seychelles [joined [http://www.nab.com.na/jdocs/
SADC on 8 September 1997 and left on 1 July biiofuels_study_final_report
2004], Swaziland, South Africa
.pdf].
(since 30 August 1994), Tanzania,
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
North-South and South-South Cooperation
North-South Development of the biodiesel Development of small- and medium-scale
Cooperation industry in Lesotho, Tanzania and industries; job opportunities; and acquisition of
Zambia. financing through the
African Sustainable Fuels
Centre, Cape Town, RSA.
India helps West Africa develop provision of US $ 250 million from India to
biofuels. boost biofuel production in 15 West African
countries.
Potato Value Chain Development Supported by Common Fund for
Commodities, the potato sector in West Africa
in West Africa (Guinea-Senegal). is integrated into competitive markets.
Green OPEC member countries Creation of mechanisms to;
are: Bénin, Burkina Faso, the 1) Share financial burdens of high oil prices in
Democratic Republic of the solidarity system that protects ongoing
Congo, Gambia; Ghana; Guinée; national projects aimed at
Guinea-Bissau;Madagascar;Mali; socio-poverty alleviation; and
Morocco;Niger;Sénégal; Sierra 2) Institute financial governance of large-
Leone; Togo; Zambia. scale use of biofuels in continental
Africa that facilitates African
The island states - Mauritius, oil producing countries to
Madagascar and Reunion [French invest in biofuels in non-oil
territory] in the Indian Ocean producing African
team up in a collaborative effort countries.
wherein Mauritius, Malaysia and Reduction of crippling
China provide the required dependency on rising
savoir-faire and technical fossil-fuels oil costs that erode
expertise whilst Madagascar and the bioeconomic prosperity of
Réunion provide land for plantations. These island states.

9. Pillay and Da Silva 2405
Table 2. Contd.
Globalized Cooperation
International Established after meetings in Promote use of sugarcane
Sugarcane Mount Edgecombe, RSA (July biomass residual products for
Biomass 2006) and Alagoas, Brazil production of bioenergy and
Utilization (November, 2006) under umbrella biofuels.
Consortium of the International Society of
(ISBUC) Sugarcane Technologists with
representatives from institutions
in 8 sugar-producing countries:
Australia, Brazil, India,
Mauritius, South Africa,
Swaziland, Thailand, USA.
Source: Compiled by E.J. da Silva.
Table 3. Non-edible and edible oils possessing bio-diesel potential.
Type Oleaginous Plant Sources Remark
Copaiba An oleoresin tapped from the Once known in Africa, now used
plant Copaifera. in Brazil as a source of biodiesel.
Jatropha oil Jatropha curcas is the most Considered for use in several
widely used species from African countries as a biofuel.
amongst the over 80 species of
the Jatropha plant.
Milk bush Synadenium granti from the Under study in Brazil as a source
Family Euphorbiaceae – a of biofuel.
poisonous plant widely found in
Africa.
Edible oils
Cottonseed oil Gossypium herbaceum Major food oil used in food
processing.
Palm oil Elaeis guineensis Tropical oil now tapped to make
biofuel.
Olive oil Olea europaea Used in cooking, cosmetics,
. soaps, and as lighting fuel for
traditional oil lamps.
powerment of the feminine labour force in villages, to the ting in the changing face of agriculture. With the advent of
generation of independent income resources that sustain nutraceuticals agriculture was the new health sector.
feminine human dignity and financial independence Today with increasing use of bio-refineries especially in
[United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United the USA, the European Union and in the BICS [Brazil;
Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), India, China and South Africa] group, agriculture is now
2001]. the new energy sector as well as the fulcrum of a
Recent times are witness to fluctuating energy prices in “nouvelle économie” (Le Monde, 2007).
upward spiraling costs. World-wide, climate change and
pollution of the aerial environment continues with dis-
astrous consequences coming from dependence on finite BIO-REFINERY CONCEPT
fossil-fuels. Mindful of the coming positive and negative
impacts of the era of “l’après pétrole” foreseen to begin The bio-refinery concept involves the integration of
later in this century several countries are already invest- bioconversion processes and equipment to produce bio-

10. 2406 Afr. J. Biotechnol.
fuels and chemicals from biomass within a singular large- est supplier of bio-diesel with Norwegian, Indian and
scale facility (Doelle and DaSilva, 2007b). A variety of British companies moving quickly to secure massive
bio-industrial process tributaries yielding multiple bio- tracts of land on the continent for Jatropha plantations.
based products and bio-fuels are the bases of the bio-
refinery thesis. The bio-refinery concept is similar to
current day petrorefineries that produce multiple fuels CONCERNS: JATROPHA, BIO-FUELS
and products from petroleum oil. The bio-refinery con-
cept is of relevance to rural and village communities Concerns have emerged on the use of Jatropha and corn
given that all waste is recycled. The cyclic nature of the as sources to feed the bio-fuel industry. The northern
zero-emission biotechnology process ensures that all hemisphere turns to corn for the production of bio-ethanol
components can provide the 6Fs- fertilizer, fiber, food, whilst the southern hemisphere turns to the inedible
feed, fuel and filling materials needed for routine daily life. Jatropha. The transformation of land that yields food
Domestic security is guaranteed by reducing depen- crops into acreage that yields fuel crops needs attention
dence on foreign oil. Bio-fuels from 'energy crops' as the transportation sector gains in priority in relation to
including sugarcane, corn, soybeans, and oil palms aid in bigger airports and highway construction. Jatropha – the
helping fight global warming. African countries contribute agro-fuel plant for the non-industrialized nations grows on
less than 1% to global CO2 (Dufey, 2006). Bio-fuel wasteland but needs time to be available continuously in
production will further help with fuel security and could be critical mass. The rising costs of imports of fossil-fuels
exported to developed countries. Such visionary action are impacting seriously on the national economies of es-
would result in valuable foreign-exchange earnings. The pecially the developing world. In the developed world, the
global bio-fuels market offers important opportunities in emphasis is on increasing use of clean and green bio-
bringing together the economic, environmental and social fuels to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Southern Africa
agenda both in developing countries and globally (Dufey, is expected to be the launching pad for new export
2006). International trade barriers, especially tariffs and markets within the framework of bio-energy trade and re-
subsidies, need to be relaxed to enable the developing gional development [(Economic Commission for Africa
world reap the benefits of the emerging bio-fuels trade. (ECA), 2006; Johnson and Matsika, 2006).
Certification schemes need to be established for
accountability of the environmental and social conditions
in such countries. Poor working conditions associated RAINBOW BIOTECH – A Portal for African Sustaina-
with the cultivation of some energy crops such as sugar- ble Development and Bio-economic Prosperity
cane and palm oil and large-scale bio-fuel production
could result in serious environmental consequences The southernmost country of Africa with veins of diamond
(Dufey, 2006). and arteries of gold is a land of bio- and unique cultural
Cellulosic ethanol derived from virtually any plant diversity in its fauna and flora (features characteristic of 4
matter including farm waste looks particularly promising. other countries: Brazil, China, India and Indonesia), its
Cellulosic conversion technology could reduce the cost of geography and topography, people, and political history.
producing ethanol by as much as 60 cents per gallon by Amongst all the countries in continental Africa, the
2015 as forecast by the US Department of Energy. Green Republic of South Africa (RSA) by virtue of its past and
groups see cellulosic ethanol as a carbon neutral energy present shared history has been at the forefront in the
source to fight the build up of atmospheric carbon dioxide promotion of biotechnology (Table 4) to achieve national
responsible for global warming. The more important need goals [Department of Science and Technology (DST),
is to create an awareness of these parameters in the 2001, 2002). The skeins of academic commitment, res-
African communities and with policy-makers in order to ponsibilities and accountability have strengthened the fa-
leapfrog the growing gap that anchors the existing divide bric of RSA national development that enriches interna-
between the industrialized and the least developed tional cooperation through for example, the IBSA [India,
nations in continental Africa. Brazil and South Africa] initiative for international co-
Rising oil prices and growing climate change concerns operation [Research Information Systems (RIS), 2006).
are driving investment and innovation in the bio-fuels The possibility of a novel bio-fuel industry is now be-
sector. Developed and developing countries increasingly coming a reality [Department of Minerals and Energy
look towards renewable bio-energy to replace fossil fuels (DME), Republic of South Africa (RSA), 2006).
(Table 2). Bio-fuels, when burned, have fewer emissions
than traditional hydrocarbon-based fuels. Furthermore,
bio-fuels, generally derived from plants, absorb carbon CONCLUSIONS
from the atmosphere as they grow and offer the potential
to help mitigate climate change. According to Monkey Poverty and its offspring – hunger – feed rebellions and
(2007), Africa could potentially become the world’s bigg- revolutions that impact on the stability of national and

11. Pillay and Da Silva 2407
Table 4. National Republic of South Africa (RSA) biotech excellence and contribution to emergence of a better Africa.
Activity Achievements Remarks
Biotechnology 106 companies [inclusive of 47 core Traditional brewing and food excluded;
enterprises and 59 non-core biotech majority of core companies are in health
companies/NGOs] are in Gauteng (39%) and support services (13%) with
(41%), the Western Cape (37%) and near even representation in the
Kwazulu Natal (15%). environmental, food, plant, animal and
industrial sectors.
Research Groups 679 research groups in SA with Stakeholders in human health, plant, food
breakdown as: 1)Biotech 296 and beverage sectors were from the
2)Potential Biotech 205 3)Biotech Western Cape, Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal
services 178 and the Free State.
Biotech relevant projects 911 projects were in sectors of: human Projects conducted primarily by Western
heath, animal health, plant biotech, the Cape, Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal and the
food industry, the industrial, food and Free State.
environmental sectors.
Human Resources 1 020 skilled persons involved with 950 Nearly all R&D personnel possess
coming from academic sector. required training.
Biotech Patents 200 biotech patents filed with the South Deals with bio-intellectual property capital
African Register of Copyright Designs of RSA.
and Patents.
Support structures Regional Innovation Centres (BRICS);
National Bioinformatics Network, etc.
[Source: http///www.oecd.org/dataoecd/è/37:3603699&.pdf].
international governance. Several of the least-developed sustainable development. Biotechnology, an important
countries of sub-Saharan Africa have low-income earning tool for economic and sustainable development through
groups and are prone to fossil-fuel energy poverty and NEPAD envisages partnerships and participation of
food deficiency. These energy- and food-deficient nations stakeholders for economic advancement at the village,
with just the bare biotechnological minimum in savoir- urban and national levels (Pillay and DaSilva, 2001). The
faire to feed themselves are perpetually vulnerable and emergence of “Rainbow Biotech” indisputably can serve
disadvantaged in the global arena of governance, em- as a catalytic portal amongst others for overall continental
ployment and trade. Poverty, an integral component of development (Louët, 2006; Pincock, 2006; RIS, 2006).
their national fabric, is the last socio-economic disease
that sows social unrest and erosion of human-power
resources in these countries. It devalues and endangers ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
the bio-safety and bio-security of biodiversity and the
legacy of the environment to be bequeathed to future The authors acknowledge Dr. C. Montague (LifeLab, Dur-
generations. ban) and Prof. B.A. Prior (University of Stellenbosch) for
Lack of respect for gender equivalence, child labour their advice and comments in the pre-reviewing of this
exploitation, bonded labour slavery, discrimination and contribution.
racism in their varied nuances need to be eradicated. The
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