Presented as part of the seminar: South at the Steering Wheel – Improving sustainability in land investment for bioenergy in sub-Saharan Africa
29th May 2012, 08:00 – 17:30
Naturvårdsverket (Swedish EPA), Stockholm, Sweden
Speaker: Dr. Sylvester Dery, Palm Oil Research Institute (Ghana)
Sylvester Dery discusses Palm Oil bioenergy development issues as including
- land acquisition (State or Community/Stool /family own lands, including purchase vs. outgrower schemes) or the use of abandoned/expired mining lands
- land suitability regarding rainfall/climate, soil fertility and chemical contamination
- legal protection of the investor and of the landowner
- incentives as well for large scale investors (to facilitate transfer of capital, technology, skills and management) as for smallholders (to maintain the palms for e.g. 25 years)
- Finding funding also for the provision of additional basic Infrastructure (e.g schools, electricity, water, roads) which in some cases should precede the creation of farms or plantations.
- Facilitate interministerial collaboration on these issues.
- Establishing and maintaining clear rules and regulations on environmental protection for a sustainable oil palm industry