Biowaste For Sustainable Products

The EU Project “Biowaste4SP” is a prime example of how WAITRO facilitates global collaboration between its members from across the globe.

Food waste is one of the central challenges the world is facing. It is estimated that up to 30% of total food producing is wasted globally. Biorefineries offer the chance to use this biomass waste for energy, nutrition and food production. This is especially important considering that many products today are manufactured from crude oil and petroleum with the aid of technologies driven by fossil energy. Consequently, the Danish Technology Institute (DTI) coordinated the EU-funded project “Biowaste4SP” in cooperation with the following WAITRO member organizations:

• IVL, Sweden
• TUBITAK, Turkey
• SIRIM, Malaysia
• IAV, Morocco
• ARC, Egypt
• CSIT, South Africa
• CSIR, Ghana
• AICAD, Kenya

Further partners:

• Danish Technical University, Denmark
• Ethekwini Municipality, South Africa
• MyAgri Group of Companies, Malaysia
• Biovelop AB, Sweden
• Moroccan Association for Solid Waste, Morocco
• Universita’ degli Studi di Siena, Italy

The aim of the project was to find the most effective way to turn waste from the food industry and agricultural sectors into sustainable products in five African countries: Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt. The socioeconomic conditions of these countries were studied and taken into consideration. Researchers used locally available equipment along with naturally occurring microorganisms to develop technologies and were able to retrieve sugars, protein and fertilizers and produce bioethanol, biogas, bio fertilizer, lactic acid, protein and amino acids. The EU granted more than 75% of the total project budget.

The results of the “Biowaste4SP” initiative contributed to reducing Greenhouse gas emissions with great benefit to the climate. Not to mention that it supported enormously the fight against hunger by using clean energy and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

This project was only possible due to the conjoint work of organizations from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This reflects the mission of WAITRO Global Innovation Family: bringing its member together for an important cause.

Overall budget: € 3 885 598

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