European biofuel companies are expanding industrial crop production in the Republic of Congo, raising concerns about local food insecurity and land use.
Francesco De Augustinis reports for Euronews.
In short:
- Italian oil company Eni has launched biofuel feedstock projects in the Republic of Congo, initially focusing on castor oil but shifting to edible crops like sunflower and soy, which experts warn could compete with local food needs.
- Although Eni claims to use only “degraded lands,” Congolese agriculture meets just 30% of the country’s food needs, and nearly 20% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, according to the United Nations.
- Eni’s efforts are part of a broader push by European industry groups and the Italian government to promote biofuel production in Africa, despite growing criticism that such projects prioritize fuel exports over local development.
Key quote:
“ ... chronic malnutrition is a pressing concern, particularly among children under the age of five, of whom 19.6 per cent are affected.”
— The United Nations
Why this matters:
The shift to biofuels has been sold as a climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, but the rush to secure feedstock is creating new tensions in vulnerable regions. In countries like the Republic of Congo, where food production already falls short, converting fertile or recoverable lands into biofuel farms may deepen hunger and rural inequality. Multinational firms often promise that they’re using only “degraded” or abandoned lands, but those same lands can still hold potential for food crops or local agriculture. These developments risk replacing local sustenance with global fuel exports, all under the guise of sustainability, while undercutting regional food sovereignty and resilience.
Related: DRC communities challenge EU banks over palm oil plantations
