Namibia Unveils Its First National Bio-economy Strategy

14 Jun 2024

The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) has published a five-year strategy to develop Namibia's bio-economy on 6 June 2024.

Namibia is only the second African country - after South Africa - to map out such a strategy, which will be accompanied by scientific research, use of indigenous knowledge and innovation.

fishing boat, Namibia, harvesting kelp
Workers harvest kelp form a boat along the coast near Lüderitz. Photo: Kelp Blue Namibia

The bio-economy strategy was developed with the financial and technical assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the bio-economy Multi-sectoral Working Group, according to the ministry of higher education.

The government has realised the importance of a national bio-economy strategy toward national development, it said. The Strategy provides a framework until 2029 and will be reviewed after two years.

“The Bio-economy Strategy highlights a vision in which economic growth is not at odds with environmental sustainability,” said NCRST chairperson Jacob Nyambe at the launch.

It focuses on key sectors such as health, agriculture, natural resources and the environment, identified by stakeholders for their substantial contribution to economic growth.

According to international definition, bio-economy comprises those parts of the economy that use renewable biological resources from land and sea – such as crops, forests, fish, and micro-organisms – to produce food, animal feed, textiles, packaging materials and energy.

Bio-economy aims to drive both sustainable development and circularity. In particular, the principles of the circular economy are “reuse, repair and recycle”.

Namibia expects inclusive growth, job creation, increased agricultural production, investments in science, technology, research and innovation from bio-economy.

Examples of bio-economic sectors

Bio-energy is produced out of a variety of biomass from forestry, and agriculture to produce wood pellets, wood chips, bio-ethanol and fuel like bio-diesel for electricity, heat and transport fuel for vehicles.

Namibia will soon have its first biomass power plant near Tsumeb, which will be fired by wood chips made from harvesting various invader bush species. 

Another bio-economy product is chariot, which is produced by burning wood in the absence of oxygen. While Namibia is producing charcoal for barbecues from harvesting invasive bush species and exporting most of it to Europe, biochar has only recently gained traction in the country. It is much lighter than charcoal and its main use is as fertiliser for crop farming.     

Alga culture falls under bio-economy – it means that specific kelp species are grown along coastlines to harvest them to produce natural fertiliser and as components for the cosmetic industry.

A Dutch company has recently established a small kelp 'farm' along the Namibian coast and a production plant at the harbour town Lüderitz.     

Brigitte Weidlich

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