In the fertile Bouenza region — known as Congo’s “food basket” — Agri Resources held a 29,000-hectare concession in Louvakou to cultivate castor seed for biofuel production. The project ultimately failed and was abandoned.
The company later switched to growing edible crops such as sunflower and soybean over 15,000 hectares, with an expected production capacity of up to 30,000 tons of oil annually. Although this may appear as a shift toward sustainable agriculture, local realities suggest a far more troubling dynamic.
⚠️ Serious risks to local food systems
According to the United Nations, local agriculture in the Republic of Congo covers only 30 percent of national food needs, and 19.6 percent of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition.
Using high-quality farmland for industrial biofuel crops is reducing the availability of arable land for food production. As a result, local communities may lose access to both land and food, deepening the country’s already fragile food security.
With limited food independence, prioritizing energy crops over staple crops could worsen dependence on imports and increase vulnerability to price shocks.
✅ How Eni defends the project
Eni has stated that its biofuel projects use only degraded lands, and that they comply with EU sustainability criteria under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
The company also points to its local development efforts, including training for 400 tractor operators, the introduction of modern agricultural machinery, and the production of protein-rich cakes for animal feed made from processing residues.
However, watchdog groups argue that there is not enough transparency about land classification, land rights, and the long-term effects on food systems.
📌 Development or disruption? A fragile balance
The Euronews investigation underscores a critical dilemma. While EU countries look to biofuels as a cleaner energy alternative, projects like these may jeopardize food access for local populations in regions already dealing with high rates of hunger and poverty.
The balance between renewable energy development and the fundamental human right to food remains extremely fragile. Unless carefully managed, EU-sponsored biofuel investments in Africa may shift environmental costs to the most vulnerable.
