“We try to de-risk early-stage biologically based ideas and inventions by making them investable”

Julius Ecuru is head of BioInnovate Africa. He holds a PhD in Innovation Systems and Development from Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden, an MSc in Environment and Natural Resources from Makerere University in Uganda and a BSc in Chemistry (Hons) from Makerere University. Julius is also an MBA from the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa), Kenya. Contact: jecuru@icipe.org

Julius, five years ago, you told Rural 21 readers that seven countries in East Africa were seeking to work out a bioeconomy strategy for the region. This strategy was adopted by the East African Community in 2022. Why is such a regional strategy important? And what impact has it had so far?
Julius Ecuru: A strategy helps us to uniquely position bioeconomy in our development context, in other words, to set clear priorities on what to invest in as well as a direction to develop a sustainable growth pathway for the future. The East African regional bioeconomy strategy lays out the priority areas for investing and measuring progress of the bioeconomy in the region. The countries in and outside the region can easily adapt this strategy to their specific needs. Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda are taking steps to domesticate the strategy. It is also worth noting that the East African strategy is the first of its kind by a regional economic block – or REC – in Africa and the second globally only after European Union, which had introduced its first regional bioeconomy strategy in 2012. I believe that other African RECs can draw some lessons from the East African Community (EAC) when they decide to develop similar strategies. If each REC in Africa has a dedicated bioeconomy strategy, then connecting the regional strategies would give us a very good outlook of an African Bioeconomy Strategy.

There are many definitions of bioeconomy. What is yours?
True, there are several definitions. Policy-wise and for academic purposes, I like to use the one by the International Advisory Council on the Global Bioeconomy, which defines bioeconomy as “the production, use, conservation and regeneration of biological resources to provide sustainable solutions (including information, products, processes and services) in and across all economic sectors”.  However, for my daily work and interactions within my community, I define bioeconomy as “using scientific knowledge to add social and economic value to biological resources in a sustainable way”. But definitions aside, bioeconomy is ubiquitous, and it is best understood in the context of its application.

What makes the region predestined for bioeconomy, and which factors are particularly suitable in this respect?
The region is rich in biological diversity, which is the source of biomass and other ingredients required for bio production and sustenance of the bioeconomy. The region is also culturally and economically interlinked. Its agroecologies are diverse, allowing almost any biological resource to thrive. More than 65 per cent of the combined landmass is arable land. Apart from this natural capital, agriculture currently contributes around 23 per cent of the region’s GDP, while manufacturing is less than 10 per cent. This is an opportunity. Agricultural biomass can be sustainably transformed through value addition and agro-processing to increase the share of manufacturing in the economy to at least 20 per cent, like it is in many strong economies. A vibrant manufacturing sector is necessary for young and talented science, technology, engineering and mathematics – or STEM – graduates to get decent jobs and exercise their science and engineering skills to innovate. I also believe that the fundamentals for growth like open markets and free trade rules, macroeconomic stability and security as well as infrastructure such as roads and electricity are good in the region. They are a launch pad for the bioeconomy.

Which thematic areas does the EAC strategy focus on?
It has four priorities. The first one is food security and sustainable agriculture, which involves value addition to food crops, livestock, forestry, marine and aquatic resources and microbial products. The production and processing of novel food and feed products (like insect-based as well as plant-derived proteins) and bio-based agricultural bio inputs, such as biopesticides and biofertilisers, are also encouraged. The second one is health and wellbeing, which mainly comprises biopharmaceuticals based on traditional medicines and indigenous knowledge, and cosmetics and other related wellness products. The third priority is bio-based industrial development, chiefly comprising biodegradable packaging materials, enzymes processing, bio-based construction materials, textile fibres and renewable bio-based oils. And the last one is sustainable energy, which includes biomass briquettes and biogas from organic waste as well as advanced biofuels, especially from dual-use feedstocks like sweet sorghum.

For us at Rural 21, one of the most important questions is how bioeconomy can contribute to sustainable agriculture, food security and rural development …
I believe these are equally important for East Africa, where the rural economy is very large. Bioeconomy encourages distributed or modular production, value addition and manufacturing. This means greater economic diversification, which is good for both rural and urban communities. A vibrant bioeconomy enables rural farmers to link their produce to agro-processing, thereby strengthening supply chains, and improving job opportunities and incomes. Most of all, bioeconomy enables all these processes to be done in an eco-friendly way, so that communities can enjoy clean water and air and less polluted soils, while also benefiting economically.

Ginette Karirekinyana, founder and director of Karire Products Limited, a company in Burundi that was supported by BioInnovate Africa grant funding and technical support for innovation projects in 2018–2022. Her company combines traditional knowledge with modern science to develop natural, plant-based mosquito repellents, including soaps, sprays and lotions. These products utilise essential oils extracted from locally grown plants, providing ecofriendly solutions for malaria prevention.
Photo: BioInnvate Africa

In your opinion, what significant developments have there been regarding bioeconomy over the last five years – in East Africa, but also at global level?
Obviously, the development of a dedicated East African regional bioeconomy strategy (2022–2032) was a key milestone for the region, as were two regional bioeconomy status reports produced in 2022 and 2024 to track progress. The Global Bioeconomy Summit held last year in Nairobi, Kenya, was another significant development. The G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy spearheaded by Brazil last year and continued through South Africa’s G20 presidency this year was a further important milestone in bioeconomy development. Then there was the GFFA, which took place in Berlin in January this year with the theme “Farming a sustainable bioeconomy”. Momentum for bioeconomy has increased in our region, and globally. I am hopeful that this momentum will yield tangible investment opportunities in the African bioeconomy in the months and years ahead.

Is there enough political support for the bioeconomy in East Africa?
There is political support as seen in the adoption of a dedicated regional bioeconomy strategy. However, I think what’s needed now is to increase momentum for implementation of the strategy. It would be great to see this political will demonstrated further with real investments and incentives for bio-based products and services in the region. A collaboration mechanism for bioeconomy development is needed but remains complex because of the highly cross-sectoral and innovation-driven nature of the bioeconomy. I think that one possible way to enhance collaboration in the bioeconomy would be to form and strengthening bioeconomy clusters. These clusters can be sector-based, for instance as bio input clusters, or they can be regional, that is, location-specific, such as the Mt. Elgon region on the border of Kenya and Uganda for key commodities like coffee, maize and other cereals production, processing and marketing. At the core of these clusters are the bio-based businesses and the involvement of local and central government ministries and agencies and the academia, that is, universities and other learning organisations like TVETS.

And what about the African continent’s other countries? Are some championing bioeconomy, and are there others which aren’t taking up the topic at all?
Yes. Namibia passed its dedicated national bioeconomy strategy in June 2024, and South Africa is thinking of revising its bioeconomy strategy of 2013. Ethiopia also validated its dedicated national bioeconomy strategy in December 2024, right after the GBS 2024, and drawing inspiration from the EAC regional bioeconomy strategy. So far, there appears to be more bioeconomy policy action in Eastern and Southern Africa; there is need to take this conversation to other regions of the continent.

Can the African Free Trade Area contribute to promoting bioeconomy on the continent?
Absolutely. The African Free Trade Area is an enabling framework for bioeconomy. The free trade agreement was signed in 2018 in Kigali. I believe that countries which are developing their bioeconomies will be the ones to reap the early and continued benefit of the AFTA. Why? It is because producing unique value-added products that consumers in other markets like will be the hallmark of intra-African trade.

You are the head of BioInnovate Africa. Can you tell us a little about the initiative’s activities?  
At BioInnovate Africa, we enable scientists to translate biologically based ideas and inventions into practical use in society through appropriate business models. We provide professional bioincubation and bioventure support, and engage in bioeconomy policy processes. Our exciting projects now include:

• Blended rhizobia-mycorrhizae-based biofertilisers for various cropping systems. Partners include the Evangelical University in Africa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hope Africa University, in Burundi, the University of Nairobi, in Kenya, and ITRACOM/FOMI, a private fertiliser company in Burundi.
   
• Using banana fibre as a biodegradable carrier for nematicides in crop protection. Partners include the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the International Fertilizer Development Corporation, in Uganda, icipe, in Kenya, and Bio-Corn Products EPZ Ltd., also in Kenya.
   
• Bromelain extracted from pineapple waste and used for controlling helminths in livestock. Partners include Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya, involving Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, in DR Congo, Sokoine University of Agriculture, in Tanzania, and Vetcare® Africa, in Kenya.
   
• Herbal supplements, which when taken with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for malaria treatment potentially reduces resistance to ACT. Partners include the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, involving the University of Bahr El Ghazal, in South Sudan, Université Officielle de Bukavu, in DR Congo, and Jena Herbals Ltd., in Uganda.
   
• Bio-rational products for controlling Tungiasis, or jiggers. Partners include Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kenya, involving the Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), the Biotechnology Research Institute, Gulu University, in Uganda, and the AtoZ Group of Companies, in Tanzania.
   
• A biofungicide effective against coffee wilt disease. Partners include Kaffabio Control Agro-Industry Private Ltd. Company, in Ethiopia, Kenya’s KALRO-Coffee Research Institute and the National Coffee Research Institute, Uganda.
   
• Eco-friendly packaging materials from cassava wastes and other biowastes. Partners include Kyambogo University, in Uganda, involving the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research in Rwanda, Ardhi University, in Tanzania, and Oribags Innovations Ltd., in Uganda.

Project leader Juliet Kyayesimira (left), Kyambogo University in Uganda, and Research Assistant Mr Kussain (right) display a dried bioplastic film from cassava waste. BioInnovate Africa is currently supporting the project as it explores the potential of cassava biowaste for eco-friendly packaging materials, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic plastics.
Photo: BioInnovate Africa

Are there other associations in the region which support networking?
Other actors exist, but so far, Bioinnovate Africa is the largest initiative fostering bioeconomy development at a regional scale; and of course, we thank the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency for their continued support and other partners who believe in what we do.

Last year, the Global Bioeconomy Summit was held in Africa for the first time. Has this given the initiative new impetus? What were the main lessons learnt?
Yes. We were so excited and privileged to host the GBS last year in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with the East African Science and Technology Commission, the Stockholm Environment Institute and the International Advisory Council on the Global Bioeconomy. A total of 569 delegates (43 % women) from 57 countries, representing both hemispheres, attended the Summit in person! GBS in East Africa marked a historic chapter in the advancement of the global bioeconomy. With a spotlight on Africa and the Global South, the GBS presented unprecedented opportunities to engage global leaders, innovators and experts in a collaborative effort to explore bioeconomy solutions driving positive, lasting change in countries and regions around the world.

A communiqué was issued which recommends that countries, regions, industry, communities and partners integrate bioeconomy strategies into economic policy, create a Global Bioeconomy Partnership bringing different existing initiatives together to share perspectives, facilitate development of standards for fast and broad market access for bioeconomy innovations, support regional and local initiatives to grow and connect with the global bioeconomy, and include teaching of bioeconomy principles and exemplars as part of all education levels.      

But for Africa, and eastern Africa in particular, GBS increased the momentum for implementing the East African Regional Bioeconomy Strategy 2022–2032. Consequently, Ethiopia validated their national bioeconomy strategy on the 20^th December, after attending the GBS, becoming the third country in Africa to develop a dedicated bioeconomy strategy following South Africa and Namibia. In the same vein, the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) took a decision in December to establish a bioeconomy cluster as one of its flagship programmes, having attended the GBS in Nairobi.

I believe that GBS showcased our leadership in fostering the bioeconomy – which is inclusive, scientifically driven and underpinned by cross-sectoral innovation – in the region and in Africa. I also think that last year’s GBS provided a foundation for discussing the African bioeconomy at the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy meetings, which South Africa is leading this year as it takes on the Presidency of the G20.

In Africa, the informal sector accounts for around 50 per cent of the economy. How can this be integrated in the development of a bio-based economy?
Bioeconomy will help us move from informal to formal businesses. This is possible because, in the bioeconomy, manufacturing and service delivery tends to be more distributed. Connecting supply chains and ensuring their resilience is key for a bioeconomy. For example, processing raw mangoes into pulp, which can be stored, transported and used elsewhere in juice-making, requires adherence to standards, and to good manufacturing practice. This aspect of trade requiring value-added products and services to follow standards will incentivise firms to formalise their businesses.

What is hindering progress in the region’s bioeconomy?
The key negative factors are an insufficiently skilled workforce, few funding opportunities and cross-border trade-related barriers. Technical skills in green chemistry and engineering are essential to ensure sustainable and competitive products are made. Skills in building robust supply chains for biomass or for value-added bio-based products are also needed. Access to funding opportunities is hampered by weakly developed projects, which often fail to demonstrate strong business cases or commercial potential. There are also high interest rates, typically ranging from 12 per cent to as much as 30 per cent p.a. and requirement for huge collateral or guarantees, depending on the type of debt. Small bio-based firms and startups cannot afford, let alone qualify, for debt financing with such requirements. Then, cross-border trade-related barriers such as uncertainties on how to address non-tariff issues and phytosanitary concerns often discourage investors.

Are efforts being made to clear these obstacles?
On our part, we try to solve the challenge of skills shortage by training next-generation scientists, for example, by providing fellowships and supporting MScs and PhD students as well as mid-career professionals in spending time in our projects and industry to learn bioinnovation and bioentrepreneurship. We collaborate regionally and internationally to share experiences, exchange knowledge and transfer technologies. But what we are doing is only a drop in the ocean; I believe more concerted efforts and collaborations regionally and internationally are needed to build the required skills.

We also work with the countries and regional economic blocks, like the EAC in our case, to harmonise bio-based product registration guidelines. Recently, for example, through collaboration, the EAC issued regional guidelines for testing ecto-parasiticides. If implemented well, this would considerably reduce time to market for bio-based products for insect pest and vector control. The issue of funding remains a challenge, but initiatives like ours try to de-risk early-stage biologically based ideas and inventions from universities and research institutes by making them investable. For regions like ours, public sector investments for de-risking early-stage ideas and inventions remain critical for the time being.

How much interest has the private sector shown?
As I indicated above, the private sector in our region is risk-averse, especially for bio-based ventures which are inherently high-risk investments at the early stages. This is where our initiative comes in. We support teams in working collaboratively with the private sector, and in some cases, we help teams to build their own businesses. One good example is insect proteins. Initially, we paired researchers with private companies and supported the development of insect farming techniques and value-added products. Now the technology has matured, and the private sector has taken it up and is growing it as a business, especially in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. But we have other more difficult ones, such as the production of bromelain, an enzyme derived from pineapple waste and used in treating worms in livestock, which requires the industry partner to invest in a new production line and obtain Good Manufacturing Practice certification. This is expensive, requiring bigger investors to come in.  

If bioeconomy is to generate income, there must also be a demand. How do you assess this?
I fully agree. There must be demand for bio-based products for a bioeconomy to thrive. We do see this demand rising, for example, in insect-derived proteins and biofertiliser, where some studies estimate that the market value would be more than 17 billion US dollars by 2033. As communities urbanise, dependence on in situ harvesting of edible insects or other commodities becomes unsustainable. Rapid urbanisation and health consciousness is creating demand for value-added bio-based products.

One sector which I feel has received far too little attention is that of marine and aquatic resources. Are there interesting developments in this sector in the region?
The marine and aquatic resources appear to be less visible in the bioeconomy because they are largely discussed under the “blue” economy strategies. But they are indeed part of the bioeconomy. Take for instance fisheries, seaweeds, mangroves and their carbon sequestration potential. A lot of work is going on in aquaculture, for instance exploring the use of Black Soldier Fly larvae as fish feed. Also, communities in Zanzibar, part of the United Republic of Tanzania, are processing several products from seaweed. For such communities, advanced biorefining, I believe, would improve the quality of their products.

Which bioeconomy field do you feel is most exciting and promising?
This is a difficult question. It depends on the context, societal challenge and markets served. But I think one area of great interest is biological waste conversion to produce novel chemicals and clean the environment. Using insects as bio waste converters is an exciting emerging field. Additionally, using dual use crops like sweet sorghum to produce sustainable biofuels, like sustainable aviation fuels, is also promising. Equally exciting is exploring herbal products that reduce resistance to current antimalarial drugs, or that have antimicrobial properties. Other forward-looking work involves the use of advanced techniques like precision fermentation to produce nutritious protein supplements and, in advanced settings, applying gene editing to treat genetic disorders in humans or to improve crop yields or resilience to stresses.

Several NGOs warn of the risks the bioeconomy bears, such as competition for biomass, especially with regard to food security, or monopolisation by international corporations, so that local communities, for example those of Indigenous Peoples, are put at a disadvantage.  Can you also see such risks affecting East Africa?
Yes. These risks exist and should be considered when designing a bioeconomy framework. Competing uses of biomass could be solved by looking into new types of dual use crops like sweet sorghum, which have nearly the same brix value as sugarcane. The stock can be used for fuel production, and the grain for food and beverages. For local communities, at peak harvest, value addition and bioprocessing can help avert post-harvest losses and avoid low prices fetched due to surplus production. Biorefineries could be co-located near local or indigenous communities, and they too should be part of the bioeconomy innovation ecosystem. If we maximise these opportunities, then the benefits of a bioeconomy outweigh the risks, but careful monitoring is still necessary to address trade-offs in an inclusive and equitable way.

Let’s get back to the beginning of our interview. Your article in 2020 mentioned a team of scientists in Tanzania and Uganda starting to produce alcohol-based sanitisers from the fermentation of cassava peels and stalks of sweet sorghum, respectively. What has become of this initiative?
This was an emergency response to the Covid-19 challenge. It showed us that bioeconomy can build resilience. With Covid-19 well under control today, alcohol-based sanitisers continue to be produced, but attention is now moving towards developing bio-packing materials from cassava waste and experimenting production of advanced sustainable fuels from sweet sorghum.

Julius Ecuru was interviewed by Silvia Richter.

BioInnovate Africa is implemented by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and is financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). 

References:

www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/184/edible-insects