Cassava stems are a glucan-rich feedstock with a high starch share (up to 42%). Starch hydrolysis prior to pretreatment improves saccharification of cassava stems. The hydrolysis of starch minimizes sugar degradation in acid pretreatment. The starch hydrolysis leads to a two-fold increase of the overall hydrolyzed glucan. Pretreating cassava stems with [Emim]OAc is more effective than with sulfuric acid.