In much of rural Africa and the Middle East, people lack access to electricity and clean cooking fuels. The smell of woodsmoke wafts through many indoor dwellings — and although warm and comforting, burning solid fuels inside leads to serious health effects. What if farm waste could power a clean-burning stove, instead? Biodigesters allow people to do just that. 

What Are Biodigesters?

Simply put, biodigesters are tanks that convert farm waste into energy. They’re part of a solution to the challenge of sustainable farming, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improving farmers’ livelihoods.

To use them, people put manure or extra food scraps into a covered, water-filled tank where microorganisms digest the waste. The result is methane that builds up and flows into a separate compartment. The gas can then be piped out for cooking. 

The leftover product in the tank is called digestate — also known as biofertilizer or bioslurry — which can serve as fertilizer for crops. Biodigesters give farmers the opportunity to be more sustainable and turn their waste into useful products. 

The Benefits of Biodigesters

This technology has many potential benefits to African and Middle Eastern farmers, including:

Lowering Energy Costs

Energy prices are increasing all over the world. Producing biogas requires less infrastructure and upkeep than importing fossil fuels, which is helpful in developing countries that may not be equipped to do so. Plus, individual farmers can produce their own renewable energy with a biodigester, reducing their dependence on external sources. 

Reducing Food Waste

Instead of throwing food away to let it decompose and give off greenhouse gases, leftovers can be put to good use. This maximizes the value of every vegetable, fruit or animal that people harvest. It also saves people time — instead of having to go outside and search for firewood after peeling potatoes, for example, farmers can simply throw the peels in the biodigester to make methane for a future meal. 

Producing Fertilizer

The digestate contains many nutrients, such as nitrogen, to bolster plant health. This is especially critical in areas that have been continuously cultivated without replenishing the soil. Adding fertilizer can lead to better crop yields and, subsequently, better nutrition and higher incomes. For some farmers, the digestate is more valuable than the methane itself. That’s because growing healthier and more numerous crops reduces food insecurity. 

Creating Better Health Outcomes

In addition to potentially growing more nutritious fruits and vegetables, using methane to cook allows people to avoid burning charcoal, dung, wood or crop waste in the house. Inhaling smoke from burning solid fuels leads to approximately 3.2 million premature deaths annually. It’s a serious health concern for people in developing nations in Africa and the Middle East. Therefore, biodigesters allow people to live healthier lives. 

Reducing Timber Harvesting

Another downside of relying on wood or charcoal for cooking is that farmers must chop down trees. This can have devastating ecological consequences like depleting wildlife habitat, reducing carbon sequestration and increasing the chances of desertification. 

Because trees must be replanted and take years to grow back, chopping them down can have serious ramifications and will change a landscape for decades. Biodigesters provide a form of clean energy that doesn’t require deforestation. 

Easing the Burden on Women and Children

In many rural communities, women and children bear the responsibility of collecting firewood. The depletion of natural resources in some areas means they must walk farther than ever, making them more vulnerable to assault and wildlife attacks. Having a source of fuel directly outside the home reduces the need to undertake such dangerous journeys. This may also give women and children more time to pursue an education. 

Opening Up Opportunities

Biodigesters are more than just a handy way to dispose of waste. By turning manure and food scraps into usable methane fuel, biodigesters can revolutionize the lives of farmers in rural parts of the Middle East and Africa. 

Additionally, they produce a source of clean energy that reduces the reliance on wood and fossil fuels. For many farmers, this means the difference between being hungry or going to bed on a full stomach.