DAKAR, (Reuters) – Brazil is ready to provide its  experience and technology free of charge to African nations  seeking to improve food production and develop biofuels, its  minister for development, industry and trade said yesterday.

Brazil, a major food producer and the world’s leading  ethanol exporter, is expanding links with Africa, where initial  tests with biofuels have had mixed results and spikes in food  prices have accelerated calls for development in agriculture.

“Our country is the most important producer of food in the  world and we can help Africa, free of charge, to transfer the  technology of food processing,” Miguel Jorge, Brazil’s minister  for development, industry and foreign trade, told Reuters.

Brazil is the world’s top sugar, beef and chicken exporter,  the second largest shipper of soya and the No. 3 maize exporter.
Jorge, who is leading a Brazilian trade delegation visiting  Africa to promote agricultural technologies, said Brazil could  help the world’s poorest continent boost food production,  without giving any further details.

Escalating food and fuel prices in recent years have led to  social unrest in many African countries, which are now under  pressure to increase and improve investments in agriculture.

Many in biotechnology industry see Africa as a destination  for future investments as the continent has perhaps the greatest  need as well as the most to gain from it.

Alongside developing food production, Brazil, which accounts  for 95 percent of global ethanol exports, is keen to see African  nations extend efforts made in biofuel development.

“We develop the most important biofuel technology in the  world and we can transfer it for free to African countries,”  Jorge said, adding the nations could produce bio-diesel as well  as ethanol.

Social unrest in African nations was exacerbated by last  year’s escalating fuel prices.
The Brazilian delegation will visit Ghana, which is already  receiving assistance in developing biofuel technology, Nigeria  and Equatorial Guinea.