The Cabinet must re-examine its recent decision on maize use in South Africa, said specialist chemical services company Omnia on Friday.
The company said it was disappointed at the government’s position on maize as a feedstock for bio-energy.
”There is a strong global consensus around the use of maize for biofuels, and an urgent need for local and international solutions in the continuous quest for sustainable development,” it said.
The development of an entire new maize-driven biofuels industry would create manifold economic benefits through a ”knock-on effect” that would boost South Africa’s agricultural sector and its associated industries — including seed, refining agri-chemicals and agricultural machinery.
”A maize-driven biofuels industry would create jobs and help to provide a much-needed boost for poverty reduction in South Africa’s rural areas,” Omnia said.
Both Omnia and Grain South Africa share the view that the entire maize industry would be strengthened and enlarged by the development of a biofuels industry.
”The benefits to the South African economy are further enhanced by the fact that there is a global need for renewable sources of energy, brought on by high fuel prices, environmental concerns and the goal of reducing dependence on oil.
”The use of maize as a feedstock for biofuels contributes to the reduction of carbon emissions,” Omnia said.
The company’s MD, Rod Humphris, said the key stakeholders in the energy debate — the government, agriculture and commercial players — need to explore other mechanisms for prioritising supplies of maize for food before ruling out the use of maize as a feedstock for biofuels.
”The South African maize industry has the capacity to produce sufficient maize for food and biofuels. Maize is a vital part of energy planning across the globe, and as the chorus of opposition to global warming and carbon emissions grows louder, we should be cautious that South Africa is well positioned to deal with these challenges,” Humphris said.
While Omnia is aware of the existence of particular sensitivities when decisions have to be made on grain for food versus grain for fuel, the use of maize as feedstock to the biofuels industry would increase rural economic development and food security.
”As highlighted by Grain SA, the use of maize as a feedstock for biofuels will create opportunities for emerging farmers. In addition, the development of a bio-energy market is widely viewed as a welcome relief for farmers as it will create an alternative market for maize,” Omnia said. ”This alternative market will create improved stability and the resulting confidence will maintain, and even increase food security.” — Sapa