A new report by the United Nations has called for the scaling up of investments in technologies that convert food waste into fuel to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels—coal, oil and gas—are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for 68 per cent of global greenhouse gases.
The report ‘Climate Technology Progress Report 2025: Advancing Biobased Technologies in the Bioeconomy’ says adopting technologies that convert food waste to energy will help lower greenhouse gas emissions and help countries combat climate change.
It was produced by the Unep Copenhagen Climate Centre, in collaboration with the UN Climate Technology Centre and Network and the UN Framework on Convention on Climate Change Technology Executive Committee.
Unep acting director for Copenhagen Climate Centre Anne Olhoff said bio-based technologies are an important part of the climate solutions portfolio.
“If used carefully, they can support decarbonisation and create opportunities for sustainable growth and rural development,” she said.
A recent report by World Resources Institute-Africa showed Kenya loses up to 40 per cent of the food it produces each year—around nine million worth Sh72 billion—even as one in four citizens struggle daily to find enough to eat.
The report showed the country can comfortably feed more than seven million people every year, inject Sh36 billion back into the economy and cut over seven million tonnes of carbon emissions if it reduces food loss and waste by 50 per cent by 2030.
The WRI report showed the amount of food that goes to waste is enough to fill about 500 million 18-tonne trucks.
The study offered the most comprehensive analysis to date.
The WRI report mapped the scale, the hotspots and drivers of food loss and food waste, while outlining solutions that could improve food security, farmer livelihoods and climate resilience.
The term bio-based technology refers to a series of innovations that use renewable biological resources, like agricultural residues, food waste and algae, to generate products and produce energy.
A growing number of countries are developing policies to leverage these solutions in a range of fields, from construction to energy generation.
The report said such technologies are reshaping industries, with the global bioeconomy–a term that covers all bio-based technologies–valued at about $5 trillion (Sh646 trillion).
The sector is projected to reach up to $30 trillion by 2050.
The report showcases the potential of bioeconomy to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and sustainable future.
It serves as a roadmap for policymakers seeking to accelerate adoption of bio-based technologies in an effort to counter climate change.
Technologies that convert biomass, like agricultural residues, wood, food waste and animal manure, into energy, fuels and advanced materials are gaining traction across multiple sectors.
Mature solutions, such as anaerobic digestion, a biological process in which microorganisms break down organic matter resulting in biogas and fertilisers, is already delivering measurable environmental benefits.
The emerging technologies like bio-based liquid fuels, produced from things like wood chips, crop residues and algae, need more investment and infrastructure to scale.
The report also noted the potential of a technology known as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage.
It involves capturing the carbon that comes from burning biomass and permanently storing it underground, a process that removes greenhouse gas emissions.
The report said such technologies are important for countering the climate crisis.
However, the deployment of such technologies remains far below what is needed to meet Paris Agreement targets.
The report said scaling up these solutions will require more financing, among other things.
It also highlights the need to ensure the integration of biobased technologies into climate strategies is consistent with broader biodiversity, development and sustainability goals.
Nature-based carbon removal approaches are also gaining attention.
They include afforestation, the process of planting trees, agroforestry, the practice of mixing trees with farmland and soil carbon enhancement, which includes adding compost to soil.
These innovations, the report said, bolster biodiversity while also improving livelihoods and food security.
The report emphasises that integrating these into national climate strategies is vital for lasting impact.
While many technologies are technically mature, broader adoption depends on sustainable land-use planning, long-term policy support, and inclusive governance frameworks.
In materials and construction, innovations such as hempcrete, a sustainable building material made from the woody core of the hemp plant, and biochar-infused concrete, a carbon-rich substance produced from biomass, are showing strong potential for carbon storage.
Scaling these materials, the report noted, will require circular design principles, effective recovery systems and alignment with regenerative land-use practices.
Bioenergy remains a central component of the bioeconomy.
Waste-based biogas offers major climate and socio-economic co-benefits, while advanced biofuels—including fuels that come from algae—show long-term promise but remain costly and technically immature.
It calls for the scaling up of financing mechanisms, including venture capital and green finance.
Persistent barriers include high upfront costs and market uncertainty, especially in developing regions.
Strengthening blended finance, linking climate funds to small enterprises and ensuring regulatory clarity are identified as critical steps.
The report underscored the importance of inclusive governance, policy coherence and alignment with national socioeconomic priorities.
Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, supporting just transitions, and ensuring indigenous people benefit from the bioeconomy are emphasised as key to equitable outcomes.
