Strengthening research and production capacity in the Namibian health sector and expanding the new bush biomass sector

The global COVID-19 pandemic also poses enormous challenges for Namibia. COVID-19 is a threat to human health, the socio-economic situation as well as the security of the country. The World Health Organisation recommends, among other things, regular, thorough hand washing with soap and water and the use of alcohol-based disinfectants to reduce the risk of infection. However, the rapid spread of the coronavirus in Namibia has led to a shortage of suitable disinfectants and increased product prices. 

Bush biomass can be used in the form of bioethanol for the production of disinfectants. Bush biomass as a resource is available in large quantities due to the phenomenon of bush encroachment in Namibia. At the same time, bush encroachment is a significant problem in Namibia. It is characterised by the encroachment and compaction of woody bush species, leading to an imbalance between grassland and bush. On the one hand, this results in economic losses due to the reduced carrying capacity and productivity of pasture land, and on the other hand, bush encroachment has a negative impact on biodiversity and the water balance.

The project cooperates among others with the 'Namibia University of Science and Technology' (NUST) in Namibia. The aim of the project is to strengthen the research and development capacities of NUST for the production of hygiene products from bush biomass and the Namibian start-up scene for the further use and production of products from bush biomass.

You can find the factsheet of the project here.