Chocolonely funds drought relief for fair trade cocoa communities
Chocolonely funds drought relief for fair trade cocoa communities

An important investment in biochar production aims to help cocoa growers restore their soil and combat climate change in Côte d’Ivoire.

Cashew coop finds business in a nutshell
Cashew coop finds business in a nutshell

BIO4Africa has given cashew coop Ethicajou a roadmap to a new venture with cashew shell biochar in Senegal

Cleaner household cooking with green briquettes
Cleaner household cooking with green briquettes

Biochar briquettes could protect public health and the environment. KRC is talking to a city council about bringing this affordable fuel to market

The fertiliser hotspot in the biorefinery value chain
The fertiliser hotspot in the biorefinery value chain

Life cycle assessment finds that changes in crop farming practices could have the biggest impact on the biorefinery's environmental footprint

Relieving the cocoa crisis with empty cocoa pods
Relieving the cocoa crisis with empty cocoa pods

Climate change is the biggest challenge for the KAPATCHIVA cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire. Cocoa pod biochar from BIO4Africa could be part of the solution

Green biorefinery optimisation – a work in progress
Green biorefinery optimisation – a work in progress

Ongoing adjustments to the BIO4Africa biorefinery in Uganda aim to secure the best output under local conditions

Gender equality makes a sustainable business
Gender equality makes a sustainable business

Equal rights for women are a priority to unlock productivity and build tomorrow’s sustainable and competitive businesses in rural Africa

Trials find the best biomass for feed pellets
Trials find the best biomass for feed pellets

Four out of five agricultural waste products show potential as a new source of rural revenue

Combating deforestation with the power in farm waste
Combating deforestation with the power in farm waste

The new pyrolysis plant in Côte d’Ivoire will produce clean and efficient household fuel

Partners adapt the BIO4Africa biorefinery to the savannah climate
Partners adapt the BIO4Africa biorefinery to the savannah climate

The foundations are laid and feedstock identified for Africa’s second green biorefinery in Ghana, building on experiences from Uganda.

First BIO4Africa field tests make good progress
First BIO4Africa field tests make good progress

Four of 22 BIO4Africa product trials kicked off in the initial reporting period. A busy time lies ahead for the testing sites.

Weighing up the opportunities for rural value chains
Weighing up the opportunities for rural value chains

Will the BIO4Africa technologies create long-term value? DRAXIS is conducting the life cycle assessments that will help to find out.

Promising rural businesses selected for BIO4Africa programme
Promising rural businesses selected for BIO4Africa programme

Twenty farms, cooperatives and processing companies have been selected for the BIO4Africa business development programme, which begins this month.

More income and influence for Africa's women farmers
More income and influence for Africa's women farmers

Empowerment of women farmers is an urgent task in Sub-Saharan Africa, where women represent 50% of the agricultural work force.

Hydrochar trials soon to begin in Senegal
Hydrochar trials soon to begin in Senegal

Quality and safety assurance is the final task before the new HTC reactor can go into operation, say BIO4Africa partners from IHE Delft and UASZ

Twin projects share vision to build rural resilience
Twin projects share vision to build rural resilience

Can a four-year project make a sustainable impact? BIO4Africa’s twin project DIVAGRI has developed a sustainability monitoring framework.

Africa gains first green biorefinery for sustainable livestock feed
Africa gains first green biorefinery for sustainable livestock feed

One of the flagship technologies of the BIO4Africa project, the green biorefinery is the first of its kind on African soil.

The transformation from take-make-dispose to reduce-recycle-reuse
The transformation from take-make-dispose to reduce-recycle-reuse

Field testing of bio-based technologies is underway at the BIO4Africa test sites. Now attention has turned to building sustainable business models.

Progress, challenges and the next steps
Progress, challenges and the next steps

BIO4Africa partners from Africa and Europe had their first opportunity to meet face-to-face at the third project meeting hosted by KRC in Uganda.

From biomass to biochar – analysing the value for soil and fuel
From biomass to biochar – analysing the value for soil and fuel

Pyrolysis for biochar production is a key technology in the BIO4Africa project. Here, BIO4Africa partner Celignis takes a look at the properties of biochar…

Water-based technology turns a wetland weed into sustainable fuel
Water-based technology turns a wetland weed into sustainable fuel

The BIO4Africa site in Senegal prepares to test HTC for hydrochar production. An invasive wetland weed – typha – is the feedstock.

African farmers get ready to turn waste into sustainable revenue
African farmers get ready to turn waste into sustainable revenue

BIO4Africa has completed a fruitful first year. Bio-based technologies are now ready for testing in circular agri-food systems

New BIO4Africa report highlights funding opportunities
New BIO4Africa report highlights funding opportunities

Farmers need capital to invest in bio-based solutions. Here are the programmes that could provide it.

Communities agree to go ahead with selected technologies
Communities agree to go ahead with selected technologies

Four workshops have completed BIO4Africa’s exploratory phase, setting the scene for technology rollout

BIO4Africa sets up biorefinery to extract protein from green waste
BIO4Africa sets up biorefinery to extract protein from green waste

Can banana leaf protein increase cows’ milk production? And will piglets thrive on the whey side-stream of protein extraction? Grassa’s green biorefinery i…

Agri-food waste is a hidden resource for circular farming
Agri-food waste is a hidden resource for circular farming

BIO4Africa maps farm residues that could become new high-value products for smallholder farmers

Let the tests begin with validated technologies
Let the tests begin with validated technologies

BIO4Africa presents an impressive line-up of bio-based technologies in its online catalogue

Knowledge and capital will fuel the bio-based transition
Knowledge and capital will fuel the bio-based transition

The BIO4Africa survey of smallholder farmers has mapped needs, challenges and opportunities

BIO4Africa builds the foundations for technology field tests
BIO4Africa builds the foundations for technology field tests

Project partners have identified local needs and the bio-based technologies that can turn farm residues into new high-value products.

Survey on small scale bio-based technologies
Survey on small scale bio-based technologies

We are creating a catalogue of technologies with potential for being successfully adapted and transferred to different contexts across rural Africa.