SciDev.Net

This web portal is the starting point for Africa-related biomass information. It contains the latest news on biofuels research on the continent, as well as an events calendar and discussion forum.

Biopact is a non-profit volunteer organisation connecting African and European citizens. It seeks to establish a 'mutually beneficial' biofuel and bioenergy relationship between the two continents. The group is web-based, and provides consulting services for a number of initiatives, including various bioenergy projects in the South.

Some of Biopact's ongoing projects include compiling an 'atlas' of biofuel production for use in estimating production factors, and exploiting Nica fruticans, a potential Nigerian biofuel crop.

CABI is a not-for-profit, intergovernmental organisation specialising in agricultural and environmental research, publishing and communication. With over 40 different member countries, its scientific projects include finding ways to lower production costs while using ecological practices. CABI studies environmental impacts of invasive species and pests, and searches for natural ways of controlling them. CABI also finds solutions to agricultural problems caused by climate change, provides microbial services and advises on trade policy.

Checkbiotech's Green Portal focuses on using biotechnology for a sustainable future. It contains news and features on biofuels research and development in both developed and developing countries.

Articles focus on: how improving production methods with enzymes can increase biofuel yields; key research breakthroughs; how enhancing plant genetics can improve biofuel yields and make agriculture more sustainable; world politics surrounding biofuels; who the key industry players in the biofuels market are; and how biofuels are changing global economics.

GBEP aims to unite G8+5 countries in a commitment to promoting bioenergy for sustainable development. Its primary activities relate to energy security, food security and sustainable development.

GBEP aims to produce an updated inventory of networks, initiatives and institutions dealing with bioenergy. It also seeks to: identify gaps in knowledge or areas of weak understanding; carry out feasibility studies for market building activities, in cooperation with developing countries; establish mechanisms for raising awareness and dealing with internationally relevant issues, such as environmental standards, food security and trade, and gaps in technology and policy; and formulate standard guidelines to measure emission reductions gained by promoting and using biofuels in the transport and energy generation sectors.

IEA Bioenergy was set up by the International Energy Agency in 1978, with the goal of fostering collaboration between countries with national bioenergy programmes. It undertakes a series of 'tasks', each with a work programme led by a participating nation. Ongoing tasks include analysing bioenergy systems and producing biomass from sustainable forestry.

This non-profit organisation aims to develop sustainable ecological farming in Africa and India. ICRISAT's mission is "to help empower 600 million poor people to overcome hunger, poverty and a degraded environment in the dry tropics through better agriculture".

ICRISAT's BioPower initiative aims to ensure that bioenergy research benefits the poor. Its activities include analysing bioenergy trends and understanding their repercussions for the poor, and enabling governments to formulate pro-bioenergy policies that benefit poor people.

Knowledge for Development is a web-based source of information on science and technology for agriculture and rural development in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. It promotes collaboration between agricultural research and development scientists and technologists in ACP countries, and facilitates dialogue between ACP and European communities with the aim of strengthening policy formulation on science and technology issues.

This website contains a number of useful documents on biofuels and biotechnology in ACP countries.

LAMNET is a worldwide network of 48 institutions from 24 countries, funded by the European Commission. Its main objective is "to establish a trans-national forum for the promotion of sustainable use of biomass in Latin America and other emerging countries". It offers literature on bioenergy, including publications from journals, newspapers and conference proceedings.