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

Sammanfattning

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.

Nyckelord

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

Publicerad i

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2024, volym: 53, nummer: 10, sidor: 1492–1504

SLU författare

• Bargues Tobella, Aida

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Goodman, Rosa

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Sundberg, Cecilia

  • Institutionen för energi och teknik, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Nyberg, Gert

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Associerade SLU-program

STandUP for Energy

Globala målen (SDG)

SDG1 Ingen fattigdom
SDG2 Ingen hunger
SDG7 Hållbar energi för alla

UKÄ forskningsämne

Jordbruksvetenskap
Markvetenskap
Förnyelsebar bioenergi

Publikationens identifierare

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

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

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