Food vs. Fuel
The “Food vs. Fuel” debate addresses the concern that dedicating agricultural land to biofuel feedstock production might lead to food shortages by diverting crops that could otherwise be used for food. This issue has stirred considerable global discussion, questioning the balance between the benefits of biofuels as an alternative energy source and the potential risks to food security.
In South Africa, the Cabinet approved the Biofuels Industrial Strategy (BIS) in December 2007, which specifically addressed this concern by excluding maize from permitted biofuel feedstocks. Maize is a staple food in South Africa, and its use in bioethanol production could pose a threat to food security. By excluding maize, the Strategy aimed to mitigate any direct competition between food supply and fuel production.
Moreover, the National Biofuels Feedstock Protocol, which forms part of the Biofuels Regulatory Framework, prioritises the use of under-utilised land in the cultivation of feedstock. This ensures that productive land currently used for food crops will not be switched to use in feedstock cultivation. Mabele Fuels’ feedstock procurement plan aligns with the Feedstock Protocol, and will support its objectives in mitigating “food vs fuel” risks.
Furthermore, grain sorghum is not a primary food staple in South Africa, and serves as a viable alternative to maize for bioethanol feedstock. With this in mind, the Mabele Fuels plant has been designed specifically as a sorghum-to-bioethanol plant.