Tree-powered bioeconomies in Africa

Key Facts

1. Africa is a leading producer of six tree commodities: cocoa, shea, cashew, gum arabic, baobab and argan oil. It also contributes to the global supply of several other tree commodities of significance, including coffee, wood, oil palm, rubber, avocados, and dates.
2. About 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa can be classified as tree-commodity dependent economies. Seven of them depend on a single tree commodity, while four depend on multiple tree commodities.
3. Tree commodities are grown on and occur on more than 100 million hectares of land across the continent.
4. Africa captures less than 10% of the global market value for most tree commodities produced.
5. Up to 44% of perishable tree fruits, such as mangoes, avocados, oranges and other citrus species, are lost annually across many countries on the continent.
6. Forestry contributes more than 10% of the formal gross domestic product (GDP) in about 11 African countries.
7. Wood demand in Africa is expected to triple by 2050.
8. An estimated 5,400 plant species and 16,000 medicinal applications have been documented in Africa, with the potential to serve as building blocks to supply part of the USD 50 billion-a-year pharmaceutical market on the continent with biopharmaceuticals.
9. Africa’s middle class could grow to 40% of the continent’s population by 2060, potentially fuelling demand for high-value tree bioeconomy products and trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
10. Only three holistic national bioeconomy policies exist in Africa (South Africa, Namibia and Ethiopia) and one regional bioeconomy strategy (the East African Community). Meanwhile, 13 countries have relevant indirect strategies and policies.

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