Establishing of Agave Americana industry in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa has high level of unemployment and low standards of living in rural areas. The Eastern Cape Province is particularly impoverished, with unemployment of about 60% in the Great Karoo region alone. Agave americana (AA), the only plant of value in the arid Karoo is currently used for the production of an alcoholic beverage, with the bulk of the plant being not utilized. Research was carried out with a view to the greater utilization of the plant. The research demonstrated the commercial potential of the AA plant for the production of fructans, fibre, textiles and paper products. A long term programme on AA plant beneficiation was therefore launched by a consortium including national and provincial governmental departments, local authorities, funding agencies, industrial partners and research organisations. A comprehensive concept for establishing AA agro-processing complexes in the Great Karoo was developed and is reported here.