IPR Policy Brief - Biofuels, development and sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, biofuels have been hailed as a new form of green capitalism. But are they really able to deliver ‘win-win’ outcomes for communities, governments and companies, mitigate climate change and promote ‘pro poor’ development?

At a time of global recession and soaring food prices, the large scale diversion of land from the production of food crops to the production of ‘feedstocks’ for biofuels processors has placed the industries’ ‘sustainability’ at the centre of controversy.

Qualitative research carried out by Dr Roy Maconachie (University of Bath) and Dr Elizabeth Fortin (University of Bristol) explores corporate strategies to promote biofuel sustainability.

It focuses on Sierra Leone, and considers the importance of global, national and local agendas in the development of its emerging biofuel sector.

EU policies sustaining markets for alternative fuels have promoted the production of biofuels in Africa. Such production is further buttressed by views that poverty in developing countries will be best alleviated by the provision of employment opportunities in rural areas.

The research considers how these agendas, rather than local concerns, have influenced national environment-development policies and corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies. Finally, it looks at the implications of biofuels production for local sustainability. The research informs key policy debates relating to: a) CSR and community development; and b) land investment and ‘green’ development in sub-Saharan Africa.