UN partnership to support greater use of bio-energy crops

A cooperation agreement announced today between the United Nations and a global crop technology company seeks to develop new technologies that can support sustainable development through the use of bio-energy crops in tropical regions.

Energy crops, such as the Jatropha curcas flowering plant, can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel usable in standard diesel engines, increasing the potential for developing countries to maximize their resources, create jobs and increase incomes in rural areas.

The partnership deal was signed by Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Kandeh K. Yumkella, and the chief executive of Quinvita, Henk Joos.

“On the side of UNIDO, we see the potential of energy crops in developing countries. They can be key for producing green, renewable energy and for poverty reduction through the diversification of income for smallholder farmers. We will strive to combine the scientific, technical and financial resources of Quinvita and UNIDO to cooperate on the development of novel bio-energy crops,” said Philippe Scholtès, Director of UNIDO’s agribusiness development branch.

In a news release issued by UNIDO, the agency notes that Quinvita was chosen as a partner because of its experience, knowledge and technology used to work with Jatropha plantations, as well as its advancements working with other traditional and new industrial crops.

The two entities have already started cooperating in a project on the potential of bio-energy crops in West Africa, jointly implemented by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).