An integrated agroforestry-bioenergy system for enhanced energy and food security in rural sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Most people in rural sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity and rely on traditional, inefficient, and polluting cooking solutions that have adverse impacts on both human health and the environment. Here, we propose a novel integrated agroforestry-bioenergy system that combines sustainable biomass production in sequential agroforestry systems with biomass-based cleaner cooking solutions and rural electricity production in small-scale combined heat and power plants and estimate the biophysical system outcomes. Despite conservative assumptions, we demonstrate that on-farm biomass production can cover the household’s fuelwood demand for cooking and still generate a surplus of woody biomass for electricity production via gasification. Agroforestry and biochar soil amendments should increase agricultural productivity and food security. In addition to enhanced energy security, the proposed system should also contribute to improving cooking conditions and health, enhancing soil fertility and food security, climate change mitigation, gender equality, and rural poverty reduction.

Keywords

Biochar; Cleaner cooking; Modern energy access; Restoration; Rural electrification through combined heat and power plants; Sustainable development

Published in

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2024, volume: 53, number: 10, pages: 1492–1504

SLU Authors

• Bargues Tobella, Aida

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Goodman, Rosa

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Sundberg, Cecilia

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nyberg, Gert

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

STandUP for Energy

Global goals (SDG)

SDG1 No poverty
SDG2 Zero hunger
SDG7 Affordable and clean energy

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Soil Science
Renewable Bioenergy Research

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-024-02037-0

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/130189