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By Rita Okoye
Following groundbreaking research demonstrating the production of alpha amylase from cassava peels using Aspergillus niger, a renewable energy expert has highlighted the transformative potential this development holds for Nigeria’s quest for energy independence and sustainable development.
Speaking about the implications of the study published in the African Journal of Biological Sciences, Adeyinka Oluwaseun, a Scientific Officer at the Bioresource Development Centre, Oka-Akoko, Ondo State, under the National Biotechnology Development Agency, explained that the research addresses a critical bottleneck in Nigeria’s biofuel production capacity.
“This research is a game-changer for Nigeria’s renewable energy sector,” she said. “Alpha amylase is essential for converting starch into fermentable sugars during bioethanol production, but we’ve always had to import these enzymes at enormous cost. Now we can produce them locally using our abundant agricultural waste.”
Nigeria produces approximately 50 million tons of cassava annually, with nearly 125 kg of peels generated as waste for every 1,000 kg processed. According to Oluwaseun, this waste stream, which currently poses disposal challenges across the country, could become the foundation of a thriving enzyme production industry.
“The beauty of this research is that it solves two problems simultaneously,” she explained. “We’re converting agricultural waste that would otherwise pollute our environment into valuable substrate for industrial enzymes needed for clean energy production. It’s the perfect example of a circular economy approach.”
She emphasized that local enzyme production could dramatically reduce the cost of bioethanol manufacturing in Nigeria. Currently, imported alpha amylase enzymes are expensive and often lose potency during storage due to the country’s unreliable power supply.
Oluwaseun noted that the research findings, which showed optimal enzyme activity at 35°C and pH 9, are particularly suited to Nigeria’s tropical climate and could facilitate year-round production with minimal energy requirements.
“With cassava production projected to reach 150 million tons by 2025, we have the raw material base to support both food security and a robust bioethanol industry,” she said. “This enzyme technology could position Nigeria as a leader in sustainable biofuel production across West Africa.”
She called on government agencies to fast-track policies supporting the commercialization of this technology and invest in pilot plants that could demonstrate large-scale alpha amylase production from cassava waste.
“The potential is enormous,” Oluwaseun concluded. “We could reduce our dependence on fossil fuel imports while creating thousands of jobs in rural communities where cassava is processed. This is exactly the kind of innovation Nigeria needs to build a sustainable energy future.”
