While Africa is short of food, the world is running short of fuel. Until now the fuels that power prosperity have been mostly coal, oil and gas. But these fossil fuels can pollute, and are running short, whereas new technology means cars, even power grids, can run on fuels from crops like ethanol from corn or sugar cane. It's been estimated world demand for biofuels over 20 years will need an area one and a half times the size of Kenya.
Kenyan Farmer and campaigner Moses Shaha is cynical about biofuels. He journeys through the Tana Delta, where farmers are starting to grow jatropha, a biofuel crop, to understand if is a threat to farming land and food security as he fears, or if biofuels can in fact inspire innovation and help the environment long-term.
5. Near or Far? - The Nigerian Minister for Agriculture wants to ensure Nigerians eat food grown in Nigeria.
"Examining the issue from the base up, Food or Fuel? gives a fresh perspective on a phenomenon that has an enormous impact at the global level. Interesting and effective...This documentary helps us reflect to the pros and cons of growing jatropha for oil in marginal lands, and will be a great discussion starter in the classroom. Moses's apparent stubbornness to embrace the opportunities offered by the cultivation of jatropha expresses a sense of farmers' agency that is often hidden in debates at higher levels."
"There is a lot of good educational material in [Food or Fuel?]. There are interesting examples of how businesses sometimes come into an area and try to alter the lifestyles of the inhabitants to suit business objectives more than suiting the cultures and desires of the people. But there are solid reasons supporting biofuel production and the point is made that systems must be in place to insure that local farm expertise and local communities must be involved...[The film] would be useful in environmental science, agriculture, or biology classes, particularly if used in a unit of study where these classes might collaborate with social studies classes. The issues are timely and could be used as a basis for discussions, debates, and projects."