Assistant Professor, Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University Bioeconomy: A Path to African Food System Transformation Ebenezer M. Kwofie, Raphael Aidoo, Katrin Glatzel, Julius Ecuru

#2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR The African Food System: Overview A major driver of health, economic growth, and social welfare

#2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR The Role of Bioeconomy Bioeconomy provides a sustainable bio-based solution for achieving • Food and nutrition security • Economic Growth • Social welfare • Planetary health Applies science, technology, and innovation (STI) Produces and valorizes biological resources over finite fossil resources Create innovative bioproducts, processes, and biodiversity services How? About US$7.7 trillion in global economic impact EU reports about 17.5 million additional jobs and €614 billion value added

#2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR Assessing Africa’s Bioeconomy Practice Our Approach

#2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR A. Research and Education Gaps RESEARCH GAPS • Marginal dispersion and focus on bioeconomy related research activities • Struggle to transfer research insights or innovations to direct bioeconomy policy and strategic actions 01 02 Spatial Distribution Research Segmentation: Perception and Focus EDUCATION GAPS • Disproportionate distribution of bioeconomy related academic and skill development programs • Outreach, extension programs, and technical and vocational skills training are comparatively low Inadequate investment/funding is a central issue in all the components discussed

#2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR B. Production Gaps GAPS McKinsey & Company Unfavorable farm inputs and yields Poor farm management practices (Synthetic chemicals, climate change adaptation gaps) Inadequate infrastructures and innovative technologies Limited services and support systems Knowledge gaps amongst smallholder farmers ACTIONS

#2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR C. Postproduction Gaps Source: Food System Wheel Critical Gaps STORAGE Inadequate storage facilities is a primary cause of the enormous postharvest loss in Africa 1 WASTE GENERATION • About 40% (174 mt) of total waste generated is organic waste, expected to triple by 2050 • 90% of these organic wastes currently disposed of in uncontrolled dumpsites 3 RELIANCE ON UNSUSTAINABLE MATERIALS • About 50% of synthetic plastic supply goes into food packaging (22.30 mt) • About 90-96% of African rural households and many SMEs depend on unsustainable traditional biomass like fuelwood for cooking energy 4 VALUE ADDITION Underperformance in the agro- processing sector 2 Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire alone produce ~ 65% of global cocoa beans, yet Africa receives less than 10% of total revenue from the cocoa value chain

#2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR EAST AFRICA East African Bioeconomy Plan Captures the creation of new and improved biobased products, enhancing value addition and innovative utilization of bioresources and creating alternative sources of food and feed, health bioenergy, and ecosystem services NORTH AFRICA No standalone Bioeconomy Plan WEST AFRICA No standalone Bioeconomy Plan Related policies include: Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024; Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Security Action Plan (Ghana), SOUTHERN AFRICA South African Bioeconomy Plan Creating and growing novel industries that generate bioresources and develop biobased products, services, and innovations No regional standalone plan CENTRAL AFRICA No standalone Bioeconomy Plan Policy Outlook and Development

#2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR Critical Actions: Post-Malabo Agenda Developing a continental bioeconomy strategy • Transition from the integration of bioeconomic policies/strategies into general development plans Sustainable Bioeconomy Design Hybridized Bioeconomy Management System • Integrate top-level and bottom-level stakeholders in regional and continental bioeconomy design and implementation 1 2 3 STEM Education TVET and Business Incubators Indigenous Knowledge Empowering Smallholder farmers and SMEs Financial Commitment

#2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR Take Home Messages • Embrace effort to integrate competing national efforts, harmonize fragmented national strengths, and proactively address geopolitical variabilities to develop an integrated African bioeconomy plan or strategy • Energize the innovation system to enhance investments in STEM education, R&D, and TVET to provide both knowledge and skill-based workforce • Revise national and continental budgets and deploy hybrid funding models to sponsor bioeconomy development and subsequent implementation • Establish collaboration between governments, private sector, nongovernmental and civil organizations, research and academic institutions, industry, farmers, SMEs

THANK YOU