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The research examines cassava's role in Colombia's bioeconomy, identifying opportunities for value-added products like bioplastics and food. It concludes that realizing this potential requires increasing primary production productivity through sustainable, climate-smart practices and technical assistance for small farmers, without expanding the agricultural frontier.

The document examines the cassava value network in Colombia, highlighting its current use in food and industrial sectors and its potential for bioplastics and animal feed. It identifies low productivity, limited technology transfer, and financial barriers for smallholders as key challenges. The paper suggests transitioning toward biorefineries and inclusive supply chains to enhance Colombia's bioeconomy.

The report analyzes the value chain of Croton megalocarpus Hutch in Kenya, specifically focusing on the business model of the company EFK. It positions the use of this oil-producing plant within the broader context of the sub-Saharan African bioeconomy, which emphasizes adding value to bioresources and biowaste to support rural development and socio-economic needs, contrasting this with European bioeconomy goals that prioritize high-value molecules and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

The South African EV ecosystem is currently nascent and dominated by private sector activity, with limited local commercial production of battery cells and a reliance on imported components. While the country possesses significant reserves of battery minerals like manganese, it lacks extensive beneficiation capacity. The automotive sector, a major GDP contributor, is pivoting toward EVs to maintain competitiveness in export markets that are phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Key barriers to adoption include high upfront costs, inadequate charging infrastructure, and a chronic shortage of technical skills. The report recommends that the City of Cape Town intervene through targeted incentives, procurement of EV fleets, and the development of charging infrastructure and skills training to stimulate a viable local value chain.

The SADC region possesses the raw minerals necessary for lithium-ion battery production but currently exports most as raw materials, missing value-addition opportunities. While South Africa has some R&D and assembly capabilities, the region lacks battery EV manufacturing plants due to policy gaps, infrastructure deficits, and a limited local market. The paper argues for regional collaboration, alignment with the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, and a 'just transition' to create jobs and economic growth.

The report assesses South Africa's capacity for renewable energy industrialisation, specifically in wind and solar PV. It identifies a shift from import-substitution to vertically specialised industrialisation as a key strategy and highlights the role of local content requirements (LCRs) and market stability. Comparative analysis of countries like Brazil, China, and Turkey suggests that long-term market visibility and strategic procurement are essential for sustainable manufacturing. The document also explores how renewable energy can support a Just Transition in coal-dependent regions through economic diversification and job creation.

The report examines the bioeconomy potential of Croton megalocarpus Hutch in Kenya through a case study of Eco Fuels Kenya (EFK). EFK has developed a circular value chain that transforms croton nuts into biofuel, poultry feed, organic fertilizer, and biopesticides, providing alternative income for over 5,000 subsistence farmers. While the model demonstrates success in gender inclusion and resource value-addition, it faces challenges from a lack of national bioeconomy policy, inadequate government incentives, and climate-related yield fluctuations.

The report identifies immediate opportunities to electrify agricultural processing in Nigeria, categorizing activities into three tiers of readiness. Tier 1 activities—cassava grating, rice milling, and flour milling—are deemed immediately viable, capable of reducing mini-grid tariffs by up to 26% if all three are implemented. The study proposes the 'Facilitator Model' for Tier 1 and the 'Processing Center Model' for Tier 2 to address barriers such as lack of credit and reliable electricity. A deployment strategy is recommended to unlock commercial finance through credit guarantees and grants, with an estimated national investment of under $30 million required for Tier 1 activities.

The report examines the potential for a sustainable bioeconomy based on quinoa in Bolivia, noting that while the country has high biodiversity and biocapacity, the sector remains heavily focused on the export of bulk seeds. It identifies a value network consisting of basic products, value-added food products, and high-value-added cosmetic products derived from saponins. Key challenges include a lack of public financing for industrial transformation, limited knowledge exchange between industry and research institutions, and environmental risks such as soil erosion and loss of crop biodiversity due to the market preference for white royal quinoa.

The report analyzes Bolivia's quinoa sector through a 'value web' lens, identifying that while the country has high biocapacity and biodiversity, the industry remains heavily reliant on exporting bulk seeds. It highlights the underutilization of quinoa biomass—specifically saponins and residual stems/husks—and identifies critical gaps in public financing and knowledge exchange between industry and research institutions. The authors warn that current policies favoring specific varieties like quinoa real and organic monocultures may threaten biodiversity and climate resilience.

The study examines the forestry value chains of South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania, noting a divide between South Africa's plantation-dominated, high-value sector and the natural forest-based, low-value sectors of Mozambique and Tanzania. It highlights limited intra-regional trade due to logistics and divergent domestic markets, with most production destined for domestic use or international exports to China and Japan. The report suggests that the region could become a significant pulp production site, particularly in Mozambique and Tanzania, provided land access and community conflict issues are resolved. It recommends establishing regional forums, data initiatives, and skills development to enhance the forestry sector's integration and competitiveness.

The document analyzes the tourism global value chains (GVCs), distinguishing between leisure and business tourism. It identifies that in Africa, the 'package booking' channel is more durable than in other regions, but the dominance of global lead firms often leads to leakages and underdeveloped linkages with local industries. While business tourism is a significant driver and has fostered the growth of African travel management companies like Satguru, the leisure sector faces constraints such as low domestic demand and restrictive government policies. The paper suggests that upgrading the value chain requires improvements in infrastructure, skills training—noting a lack of certified schools beyond Kenya and Zambia—and the deregulation of air markets to support low-cost carriers.

The document examines the sunflower value chain in Malawi, noting that while the crop is drought-tolerant and suitable for smallholders, its industry is underdeveloped compared to soybean. Key constraints include a lack of certified seed, weak extension services, and competition from cheaper, smuggled palm oil. However, recent developments such as a new Seed Policy (May 2018), the removal of VAT on edible oil in 2017, and the establishment of a 'fridge-free' margarine factory by Sunseed Oil in 2017 provide pathways for growth. The briefing recommends increased collaboration between processors, government, and farmer organisations to promote certified seeds and the use of sunflower cake in animal feed.

The document identifies critical barriers to sustainable charcoal in Kenya, including limited financing for reforestation and efficient kilns, weak enforcement of the 2009 Forest (Charcoal) Rules due to systemic corruption, and low capacity among producer associations to comply with complex regulations. It highlights a significant supply-demand gap, with demand estimated at 16.3 million m3 against a supply of 7.4 million m3, and notes that while alternative fuels like LPG and ethanol are available, they remain accessible primarily to high-income households.

The report argues that SADC countries can reduce processed food trade deficits and mitigate climate change risks by shifting from national industrial policies to regional value chains (RVCs). It identifies a significant opportunity for Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique to replace South Africa's deep-sea soya oilcake imports with regional production. However, it notes that the sugar sector is hindered by protectionist policies and the market power of dominant firms, which keep industrial sugar prices high and stifle downstream confectionery processing. The author proposes practical interventions, including a regional transportation information system to solve 'backhaul' constraints and the harmonisation of quality standards to facilitate intra-regional trade.

The document examines the poultry value chain in Southern Africa, noting that while South African vertically integrated firms drive regional activity through investment, a coordinated regional value chain is hindered by scale asymmetries, trade barriers, and a lack of harmonised standards. It highlights specific dynamics in the soybean and maize trade between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and identifies South Africa as the region's lowest-cost chicken producer.

The document examines the role of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in enhancing climate resilience within agricultural value chains, using a case study of Equator Seeds in northern Uganda. It argues that small businesses can reduce climate vulnerability for suppliers and clients by providing climate-resilient seed varieties, complementary training services, and flexible financial arrangements. The analysis identifies key investment priorities for seed companies, including improving informed decision-making for farmers, raising awareness of improved seed varieties, and strengthening quality control systems to combat counterfeit seeds. It concludes with recommendations for practitioners and researchers to improve the enabling environment, enhance MSME capacity to use climate information, and facilitate access to climate finance.

The research examines the effects of privatised copper mine ownership and foreign investment from China and India on Zambia's upstream supply chain, highlighting challenges such as poor capital access and stiff competition, while noting that Chinese OEMs are displacing established suppliers through advantageous credit terms.

The report analyzes the maize value chain in the SADC region, emphasizing the need for coherent regional policies and improved governance structures between actors. It identifies critical gaps in infrastructure and finance, recommending the establishment of warehouse networks and receipt systems in Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, alongside the promotion of yellow maize for animal feed and the adoption of GM certified seeds.

The maize value chain in Tanzania is characterized by fragmentation and inefficiency, primarily driven by small-scale farmers operating under rain-fed conditions. Significant constraints—including land tenure uncertainty, limited finance, and poor infrastructure—discourage investment despite growing domestic and regional demand. The document argues for a jointly developed National Maize Development Strategy between public and private sectors to foster a positive business environment and encourage 'Green Growth' options.