In the Niari department of southwestern Congo, agricultural landscapes reveal a shifting reality. Once bustling with projects by Eni Congo, a subsidiary of the Italian oil giant Eni, many fields now lie abandoned while others see renewed activity from local families. A drone survey captures these rain-soaked lands, highlighting the legacy of a failed agricultural venture managed by Agri Resources. This Luxembourg-based company had the ambitious plan to cultivate castor oil across a 29,000 hectare concession for Eni’s biofuel production in Italy. However, chief Joseph Ngoma Koukebene from the nearby village of Kibindouka reports poor productivity, leading to the cessation of the project. This situation reflects the broader challenges faced by Eni as it grapples with the difficulties of implementing sustainable agricultural practices in a region where many fields remain either dormant or are reverting to local communal use.
Despite the abandoned initiatives, Eni initiated projects aimed at cultivating non-food crops like castor oil to create biofuels and to address sustainability concerns. In 2022, Louvakou became one of three sites for such experimentation, asserting its focus on “degraded lands.” However, as the castor oil initiative fades, Eni has shifted focus to more traditional crops like sunflower and soy since May 2023, raising concerns about potential negative impacts on local food security. Eni’s overarching goal is significant: to supersize its biofuel production capacity from 1.65 million to 5 million tonnes by 2030 while relying on a mix of unconventional agricultural methods and partnerships across multiple African nations. Plans formulated in 2021 aimed at establishing an extensive agricultural network of “agri-hubs” reflect Eni’s desire to innovate while navigating the complexities of local and global markets.
The ambitious agricultural endeavors in the Congo were initially aimed at producing substantial amounts of biofeedstock, with targeted outputs of 20,000 tonnes of assorted crops by 2023, scaling up to 250,000 tonnes by 2030. Yet the reality has diverged. The project in Louvakou has closed, while efforts in other regions remain in experimental phases. The establishment of an agri-hub in Loudima serves as an example of ongoing efforts, with projected vegetable oil production reaching 30,000 tonnes and agricultural output from 1.1 million tonnes of crops. Farming leaders, such as Chris Nsimba, note a shift away from castor oil to more traditional crops alongside a recognition of the land’s previous abandonment leading to improved yields, yet questions persist about the impacts on local food production.
In Bouenza, often called “the breadbasket of Congo,” government agreements with Eni have allowed for 150,000 hectares of collaboration focused on bio-feedstock. While local crops like sunflower, which typically compete with food security, are being touted by Eni for their sustainability credentials, significant reliance on food imports persists. It is reported that a mere 30% of the country’s food needs are met domestically, with malnutrition remaining a critical issue among children. Eni asserts that it aims to use “degraded lands,” previously abandoned due to large-scale agricultural practices, while promoting the economic benefits of local feedstock production for livestock as a byproduct of oil extraction.
As global biofuel policy shifts—especially within the European Union, which has redefined standards for sustainable fuels and banned traditional internal combustion vehicles—Eni finds itself in a complex position. They are lobbying for recognition of biofuels as zero-emission alternatives, arguing that they represent a sustainable choice for transportation. This advocacy coincides with Italy’s broader “Mattei Plan for Africa,” which aims to bolster agricultural production and fuel generation across the continent. Advocates highlight the dual benefits to local economies and energy supply chains, yet skepticism remains among local farmers who question how much benefit these projects truly bring to their communities.
In the face of these developments, local farmers express mixed sentiments regarding large-scale agricultural initiatives. While recognizing the necessity for development within Bouenza, concerns arise that these projects primarily serve international markets, depriving local communities of their own agricultural benefits. The ongoing narrative surrounding Eni’s ambitious agricultural investments and their real-world implications raises important questions about sustainability, local food security, and the balance between global biofuel demands and regional agricultural viability. The journey forward exemplifies the complexities of integrating international business interests with local agricultural realities.
