Control, efficiency best way for Africa biofuels

By Peter Murphy

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Careful planning and oversight can ensure biofuels bring jobs, revenue and home-grown energy to African countries without gambling with food security, a Brazilian biofuel official said on Friday.

A Brazilian delegation returned this week from a tour of seven African nations to share the South American country's success story in biofuel and encourage those with available land and the right weather to follow suit and expand the emerging sector.

"The challenge is to increase the productivity of agriculture to meet the growing demand for food and biofuels," Jose Nilton de Souza from the agriculture ministry's agro-energy department, told Reuters on his return to Brazil.

"Brazil wants to help countries to become more efficient in agriculture," he said.

Brazil is a major producer of sugarcane-derived ethanol and also makes biodiesel. It is keen for other countries to join in efforts to expand the international market. African countries would gain jobs in rural areas and reduce energy imports.

The delegation emphasized the importance of what it calls "zoning" before delving into planting. This involves using data on a region's soil, climate and other factors to determine which crops should be grown where and the best time to plant.

That helped boost yields on Brazilian farms, Souza said.

While promoting biofuels abroad, Souza said Brazil was mindful of concerns about using crops for energy rather than food. He said production should only be considered by nations already growing enough food and with enough water and land.