Biofuels
Ethanol is the poster reagent of Biofuels. At present, ethanol is produced mainly from maize, cassava, wheat. These raw materials have high energy densities, are readily available and are currently under much groundbreaking research.
One catch however is that the raw materials are also essential food crops in insane demand the world over. For example, cassava is extremely available in west Africa but recently when the Nigerian government tried to export some cassava for Biofuel production, prices of various cassava-based staples skyrocketed!
I propose that instead of focusing on high-demand food crops for Biofuels, we should begin to look at presently unwanted sources. Waste cooking oils, weeds, non-food crops, etc should be tested and maybe, just maybe, these may be viable solutions.
Using weeds and (waste cooking) oils to produce Biofuels in the short and long run introduces a phenomenon that every forward-thinking and sustainable community must have, Recycling. This further branches our economy and creates a new sub-industry, jobs and helps eradicate poverty. Also, we always need to be innovating, discovering new ideas and economic pathways. Crops which are not presently essential foods can be researched and, if favourable, used to create Biofuels. This will create jobs and may even lead to exports of both raw or/and refined materials. I would prefer we export the technology, expertise or finished products, not raw materials and thus avoid a case much like what we suffer via Crude Oil.
We are too reliant on Oil in Nigeria, this is yet another way we can diversify the economy via job-creation for all 'strata'.
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