Côte d’Ivoire is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with a thriving agricultural sector. The country produces significant volumes of agricultural by-products on an annual basis. There is significant potential for utilizing agricultural residues in the cashew, cassava, cocoa, palm oil, and rubber value chains in a productive and responsible way. This is the main conclusion of a study Partners for Innovation performed on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the study seven residual streams were identified as very promising. Some of these byproducts such as cashew shells, cassava peelings and cocoa bean shells are to some extent already utilised efficiently as cattle feed, fertiliser or co-firing feedstock. A considerable amount of residues, like cashew apples, Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) and rubber felling residues and seeds, is left untreated, sometimes causing environmental, human health, and safety risks.

The technical potential for beneficiation of several of these biomass streams is evident. Locally available infrastructure, market conditions, and skillsets are yet to be optimized to ensure the technical potential of these by-products is exploited further.

The study demonstrates opportunities for strengthening local knowledge and sector development and has identified potential business opportunities for Dutch technology and knowledge providers.

Download the study here.

For more information about this study, please contact Peter Karsch. When you want to know more about our sustainable bioenergy and biomass, visit this page