IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i4p1926-d497460.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Shiferaw Feleke

    (Social Science and Agribusiness, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dar es Salaam 34441, Tanzania)

  • Steven Michael Cole

    (Social Science and Agribusiness, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dar es Salaam 34441, Tanzania)

  • Haruna Sekabira

    (Natural Resource Management, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Kigali 1269, Rwanda)

  • Rousseau Djouaka

    (Plant Production and Plant Health, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Cotonou 0932, Benin)

  • Victor Manyong

    (Social Science and Agribusiness, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dar es Salaam 34441, Tanzania)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Shiferaw Feleke & Steven Michael Cole & Haruna Sekabira & Rousseau Djouaka & Victor Manyong, 2021. "Circular Bioeconomy Research for Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Innovations, Gaps, and Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1926-:d:497460
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1926/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1926/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Raymond L. Desjardins & Devon E. Worth & Xavier P. C. Vergé & Dominique Maxime & Jim Dyer & Darrel Cerkowniak, 2012. "Carbon Footprint of Beef Cattle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(12), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Fabio A. Madau & Brunella Arru & Roberto Furesi & Pietro Pulina, 2020. "Insect Farming for Feed and Food Production from a Circular Business Model Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Stefania Bracco & Ozgul Calicioglu & Marta Gomez San Juan & Alessandro Flammini, 2018. "Assessing the Contribution of Bioeconomy to the Total Economy: A Review of National Frameworks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Calzadilla, Alvaro & Zhu, Tingju & Rehdanz, Katrin & Tol, Richard S.J. & Ringler, Claudia, 2013. "Economywide impacts of climate change on agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 150-165.
    5. Sheahan, Megan & Barrett, Christopher B., 2017. "Review: Food loss and waste in Sub-Saharan Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1-12.
    6. Daniel Callo-Concha & Hannah Jaenicke & Christine B. Schmitt & Manfred Denich, 2020. "Food and Non-Food Biomass Production, Processing and Use in sub-Saharan Africa: Towards a Regional Bioeconomy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-9, March.
    7. Sebastian M. Scholz & Thomas Sembres & Kelli Roberts & Thea Whitman & Kelpie Wilson & Johannes Lehmann, 2014. "Biochar Systems for Smallholders in Developing Countries : Leveraging Current Knowledge and Exploring Future Potential for Climate-Smart Agriculture," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 18781, December.
    8. Willi Haas & Fridolin Krausmann & Dominik Wiedenhofer & Markus Heinz, 2015. "How Circular is the Global Economy?: An Assessment of Material Flows, Waste Production, and Recycling in the European Union and the World in 2005," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(5), pages 765-777, October.
    9. Tilahun Woldie Mengistu & Saurabh Gupta & Regina Birner, 2018. "Analysis of maize biomass use in Ethiopia and its implications for food security and the bioeconomy," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(6), pages 1631-1648, December.
    10. Sarocha Pradyawong & Ankita Juneja & Muhammad Bilal Sadiq & Athapol Noomhorm & Vijay Singh, 2018. "Comparison of Cassava Starch with Corn as a Feedstock for Bioethanol Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-11, December.
    11. María Jesús Muñoz-Torres & María Ángeles Fernández-Izquierdo & Juana M. Rivera-Lirio & Idoya Ferrero-Ferrero & Elena Escrig-Olmedo & José Vicente Gisbert-Navarro & María Chiara Marullo, 2018. "An Assessment Tool to Integrate Sustainability Principles into the Global Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-20, February.
    12. Giampietro, Mario, 2019. "On the Circular Bioeconomy and Decoupling: Implications for Sustainable Growth," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 143-156.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Khan, Feroz & Ali, Yousaf, 2022. "Moving towards a sustainable circular bio-economy in the agriculture sector of a developing country," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    2. Daniel Dzepe & Ornela Magatsing & Hervé Mube Kuietche & Félix Meutchieye & Paulin Nana & Timoléon Tchuinkam & Rousseau Djouaka, 2021. "Recycling Organic Wastes Using Black Soldier Fly and House Fly Larvae as Broiler Feed," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    3. Konrad Żukiewicz & Agnieszka Dudziak & Tomasz Słowik & Jacek Mazur & Patrycja Łusiak, 2022. "Analysis of the Problem of Waste in Relation to Food Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Kutay Cingiz & Hugo Gonzalez-Hermoso & Wim Heijman & Justus H. H. Wesseler, 2021. "A Cross-Country Measurement of the EU Bioeconomy: An Input–Output Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-39, March.
    5. Beatrice Nöldeke & Etti Winter & Yves Laumonier & Trifosa Simamora, 2021. "Simulating Agroforestry Adoption in Rural Indonesia: The Potential of Trees on Farms for Livelihoods and Environment," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-31, April.
    6. Sharma, Rozi & Malaviya, Piyush, 2023. "Ecosystem services and climate action from a circular bioeconomy perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    7. Koppiahraj Karuppiah & Bathrinath Sankaranarayanan & Syed Mithun Ali, 2023. "Towards Sustainability: Mapping Interrelationships among Barriers to Circular Bio-Economy in the Indian Leather Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-26, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sharma, Rozi & Malaviya, Piyush, 2023. "Ecosystem services and climate action from a circular bioeconomy perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    2. Sanz-Hernández, Alexia & Jiménez-Caballero, Paula & Zarauz, Irene, 2022. "Gender and women in scientific literature on bioeconomy: A systematic review," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    3. Marisa Faggini & Silvia Cosimato & Anna Parziale, 2023. "The way towards food sustainability: some insights for pasta supply chain," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(2), pages 679-702, July.
    4. G. Venkatesh, 2022. "Circular Bio-economy—Paradigm for the Future: Systematic Review of Scientific Journal Publications from 2015 to 2021," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    5. Emilio Abad-Segura & Ana Batlles de la Fuente & Mariana-Daniela González-Zamar & Luis Jesús Belmonte-Ureña, 2020. "Effects of Circular Economy Policies on the Environment and Sustainable Growth: Worldwide Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-27, July.
    6. Maria Lourdes Ordoñez Olivo & Zoltán Lakner, 2023. "Shaping the Knowledge Base of Bioeconomy Sectors Development in Latin American and Caribbean Countries: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    7. Daniela Pasnicu & Mihaela Ghenta & Aniela Matei, 2019. "Transition to Bioeconomy: Perceptions and Behaviors in Central and Eastern Europe," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(50), pages 1-9, February.
    8. Wajad Ulfat & Ayesha Mohyuddin & Muhammad Amjad & Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan & Beenish Mujahid & Sohail Nadeem & Mohsin Javed & Adnan Amjad & Abdul Qayyum Ashraf & Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman & Sadaful H, 2023. "Reuse of Buffing Dust-Laden Tanning Waste Hybridized with Poly- Styrene for Fabrication of Thermal Insulation Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, January.
    9. Jacopo Zotti & Andrea Bigano, 2019. "Write circular economy, read economy’s circularity. How to avoid going in circles," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 36(2), pages 629-652, July.
    10. Lange, Steffen & Pohl, Johanna & Santarius, Tilman, 2020. "Digitalization and energy consumption. Does ICT reduce energy demand?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    11. Millar, Neal & McLaughlin, Eoin & Börger, Tobias, 2019. "The Circular Economy: Swings and Roundabouts?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 11-19.
    12. Kalaivani Jayaraman & Sreenivasan Jayashree & Magiswary Dorasamy, 2023. "The Effects of Green Innovations in Organizations: Influence of Stakeholders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-13, January.
    13. Ana Castro & Nilcileny Da Silva Batista & Agnieszka E. Latawiec & Aline Rodrigues & Bernardo Strassburg & Daniel Silva & Ednaldo Araujo & Luiz Fernando D. De Moraes & Jose Guilherme Guerra & Gabriel G, 2018. "The Effects of Gliricidia -Derived Biochar on Sequential Maize and Bean Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, February.
    14. D. D’Amato, 2021. "Sustainability Narratives as Transformative Solution Pathways: Zooming in on the Circular Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    15. Marco Bianchi & Carlos Tapia & Ikerne del Valle, 2020. "Monitoring domestic material consumption at lower territorial levels: A novel data downscaling method," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(5), pages 1074-1087, October.
    16. Anne P. M. Velenturf & Phil Purnell, 2017. "Resource Recovery from Waste: Restoring the Balance between Resource Scarcity and Waste Overload," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-17, September.
    17. Yana Us & Tetyana Pimonenko & Oleksii Lyulyov, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Renewable Energy Development for the Green Brand within SDGs: A Meta-Analytic Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-18, February.
    18. Michael Saidani & Alissa Kendall & Bernard Yannou & Yann Leroy & François Cluzel, 2019. "Closing the loop on platinum from catalytic converters: Contributions from material flow analysis and circularity indicators," Post-Print hal-02094798, HAL.
    19. Atreyi Pramanik & Aashna Sinha & Kundan Kumar Chaubey & Sujata Hariharan & Deen Dayal & Rakesh Kumar Bachheti & Archana Bachheti & Anuj K. Chandel, 2023. "Second-Generation Bio-Fuels: Strategies for Employing Degraded Land for Climate Change Mitigation Meeting United Nation-Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-19, May.
    20. Britz, Wolfgang & Li, Jingwen & Shang, Linmei, 2021. "Combining large-scale sensitivity analysis in Computable General Equilibrium models with Machine Learning: An Example Application to policy supporting the bio-economy," Conference papers 333285, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1926-:d:497460. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.