Circular Bioeconomy Research for Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Innovations, Gaps, and Actions

Shiferaw Feleke,Steven Michael Cole,Rousseau Djouaka,Victor Manyong,Haruna Sekabira

doi:10.3390/su13041926

Abstract

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has applied the concept of ‘circular bioeconomy’ to design solutions to address the degradation of natural resources, nutrient-depleted farming systems, hunger, and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Over the past decade, IITA has implemented ten circular bioeconomy focused research for development (R4D) interventions in several countries in the region. This article aims to assess the contributions of IITA’s circular bioeconomy focused innovations towards economic, social, and environmental outcomes using the outcome tracking approach, and identify areas for strengthening existing circular bioeconomy R4D interventions using the gap analysis method. Data used for the study came from secondary sources available in the public domain. Results indicate that IITA’s circular bioeconomy interventions led to ten technological innovations (bio-products) that translated into five economic, social, and environmental outcomes, including crop productivity, food security, resource use efficiency, job creation, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Our gap analysis identified eight gaps leading to a portfolio of five actions needed to enhance the role of circular bioeconomy in SSA. The results showcase the utility of integrating a circular bioeconomy approach in R4D work, especially how using such an approach can lead to significant economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The evidence presented can help inform the development of a framework to guide circular bioeconomy R4D at IITA and other research institutes working in SSA. Generating a body of evidence on what works, including the institutional factors that create enabling environments for circular bioeconomy approaches to thrive, is necessary for governments and donors to support circular bioeconomy research that will help solve some of the most pressing challenges in SSA as populations grow and generate more waste, thus exacerbating a changing climate using the linear economy model.

Highlights

Combining the principles of circular economy and knowledge-based processes of bioeconomy in agriculture, Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has applied circular bioeconomy as an approach to provide solutions that contribute to addressing land degradation, low agricultural productivity, food insecurity, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, hunger, and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Applying an outcome tracking approach to data that came from secondary sources, we showed that circular bioeconomy interventions led to ten outputs that translated into five economic, social, and environmental outcomes, including crop productivity, food security, resource use efficiency, job creation, and reduction in GHG emissions
While this article is based on IITA’s experience in SSA implementing circular bioeconomy interventions, the results prove useful as a foundation to develop a framework to guide circular bioeconomy R4D work at IITA

Summary

Introduction

Throughout its modern history since the industrial revolution, the world has conveniently relied on a linear economic model that can be summarized as take the resources you need, make the goods for sale and profit, and dispose of what you do not need [1,2]. This extractive industrial model has benefited humanity for decades in material wealth creation. Scientific modeling results suggest that the current level of resource use has already exceeded what is considered sustainable [3].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion