Bioenergy when managed sustainably and efficiently can be a source of energy to reduce energy access problems. When bioenergy feedstock is produced based on the principles of sustainable production intensification and energy efficiency improvements are made by applying agro-ecological practices and locally adapted technologies, both rural and urban communities are likely to benefit from increased access to energy, and as a direct consequence, improved food security.
However, at the same time, there has also been a lot of debate on whether producing bioenergy could actually threaten food security. This has particularly been raised in the context of producing crops and other biomass for liquid transport fuels and bioelectricity. FAO argues that to mitigate such risks and to harness the potential benefits of bioenergy production, one is well advised to apply good practices of bioenergy production in the first place. The production of bioenergy in Integrated Food-Energy Systems (IFES) is one of such good practices as IFES by their very nature allow one to meet both food and energy demand.