Irini Maltsoglou Food and Agriculture Organization of the United ...

Bioenergy, Food and Water Nexus:Developing Country PerspectivesIrini MaltsoglouFood and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations

Development challenges and prospects• Challenges are mounting for developing countries:– Energy demand, food insecurity, natural resource constraints,climate change, etc.• New development paths must be found:– Sustainable development, low-carbon development, greengrowth (Rio+20), etc.• Can bioenergy help address these challenges?– Yes, in some countries, but only through a “nexus” approach

Biofuels are already expanding rapidly• Global production is dominated by developed and largedeveloping countries (e.g., USA, Brazil)– But more developing countries are exploring domestic options,usually in response to foreign investor interests• Biofuel technologies and feedstock are evolving– But the current emphasis is on traditional biomass• “Food-fuel” debate focuses on global price effects– But many developing countries see biofuels as a developmentopportunity (esp. for rural areas and poor households)

...but there are many concerns• Numerous concerns are raised about biofuels– Might worsen water constraints, food insecurity andenvironmental problems• Can bioenergy be developed in low-income countrieswithout worsening food security and the environment?• Any answer is likely to be case-specific– Countries differ in their agro-ecological conditions– Development needs and food/energy security constraints vary

Sustainable development “nexus”DevelopmentEnergyFoodBiofuelsWater

Country level assessmentsIdentify country goals and objectivesWhat to do?Getting the facts right to makethe right choicesImplementing good practiceand policiesMonitoring and evaluating impacts at country levelSustainability criteria (eg. GBEP sustainability criteria)How to do it?Source: The FAO Support Package for Decision Making for Sustainable Bioenergy, 2011 (www.fao.org/bioenergy )To learn more about FAO programmes:Sustainable crop intensification www.fao.org/ag/save-and-grow Coping with water scarcity www.fao.org/nr/waterLand Tenure www.fao.org/nr/tenure Climate Change www.fao.org/climatechange

Country level assessmentsCountry analytical framework(FAO’s BEFS-AF)Identify country goals and objectives1.Diagnostic (current needs and challenges)2. Natural resources (land, water and residues)Getting the facts right to makethe right choicesImplementing good practiceand policies3. Techno-economic and environmental(technologies, production costs, greenhouse gasemissions, etc.)Monitoring and evaluating impacts at country levelSustainability criteria (eg. GBEP sustainability criteria)4. Socioeconomic (development impacts)What to do?How to do it?

Evidence-based decisions in Tanzania• Which feedstock crops can begrown for biofuels?• Where can they be grown andwhat is the land used for?Potential and current cassavagrowing areas in Tanzania

Evidence-based decisions in TanzaniaTanzania vs. global supply priceTanzania Ethanol Delivered at Rotterdam• Can biofuels be producedprofitably and competitively?10MolassesSugarCassava0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100USD per barrel

GrowthPovertyEvidence-based decisions in TanzaniaGrowth and poverty impactsTen-year change in national incomeor poverty rate (%)0 2 4 6Sugarcane (large)Cassava (small)• What are the developmentimplications?Sugarcane (large)Cassava (small)

GrowthPovertyTanzania vs. global supply priceConcluding remarksPotential and current growing areasGrowth and poverty impactsTen-year change in …Tanzania Ethanol Delivered at Rotterdam0 2 4 6MolassesSugarcane …10SugarCassavaCassava …Sugarcane …0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100USD per barrelCassava …• Evidence-based policy is crucial– Impacts vary by country (i.e., case-specific)