Sustainable aviation fuel transition: Exploring the food–fuel nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is widely seen as the most feasible near-term solution for reducing aviation emissions, but its expansion in Africa raises important questions about land use, agricultural resilience, and economic viability. This study examined the SAF transition in Africa, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, to assess whether SAF production can support aviation decarbonisation without worsening pressure on fragile food systems. A narrative review was carried out to synthesise evidence on global SAF market trends, approved conversion methods, biomass feedstocks, land governance, supply chain readiness, financing conditions, and policy frameworks. The review showed that while Africa possesses considerable biomass potential and new chances for rural value creation, the deployment of sustainable SAF faces challenges such as insecure land tenure, smallholder-focused farming systems, poor logistics, climate-sensitive production methods, high capital requirements, and limited certification and regulatory support. The findings further indicate that poorly managed expansion of energy crops can increase competition for land, water, labour, and capital, thereby threatening food security and damaging the environmental credibility of SAF projects. The study concludes that SAF development in Africa should not be seen purely as a technical fuel replacement strategy but as an integrated challenge involving aviation, agriculture, and industry. A phased, safeguards-driven pathway that prioritises residues and waste, promotes inclusive production models, enhances sustainability governance, and reduces investment risks is therefore essential to achieve credible decarbonisation along with broader developmental benefits.