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Cassava pollution

July 21, 2016

Cassava production generates huge amounts of waste, which when burned or left to rot, pollute the air, soil and groundwater. Scientists are now exploring ways of making better use of the whole plant.

https://p.dw.com/p/1JSwS
Maniok - Elfenbeinküste Plantage
Image: Getty Images/AFP/I. Sanogo

Making the most of cassava

In this edition of eco@africa, we explore the world of cassava, also known as maniok, in Nigeria. Its root yields a starch widely used in food production, and to lesser degrees, alcoholic beverages, animal feed and biofuel. In many places, much of the plant is discarded and either burned or left to rot, thereby leading to air, land and groundwater pollution. Scientists are looking at ways of preventing this outcome.

We also go to Kenya, which like many places in the world, is facing a modern-day plague in the form of the ubiquitous plastic bag. A coastal initiative is working to clean up plastic waste in ways that lead to job creation. And staying with plastic bags, a duo in Egypt have found a way to turn them into beautiful household accessories. Their products have met with an enthusiastic consumer reception.

A woman holds large cassava roots
The roots provide the starch, the rest of the plant is often discardedImage: Getty Images/AFP/I. Sanogo

We will also check in with some hungry elephants in Namibia, attempt to measure a forest in Zambia, cross Berlin's river Spree using solar power and find out what is making OLEDs the buzzword of contemporary light.

A woman weaves a rug from plastic
Hard at work making magic from plasticImage: cc-by-nc-nd-Sabry Khaled

You won't want to miss it. Any of it. So don't.