Low-cost biodigesters are more than biogas producers – they hold tremendous untapped potential for wastewater treatment. Jaime Martí Herrero reflects on a project that took him from a metropolitan slaughterhouse in Ecuador to Indigenous communities in the Amazon.
Online Learning and Excursions Promote Biogas Solutions in Latin America
In collaboration with our local partner organizations, our project successfully launched an online learning platform and organized hands-on excursions to three different countries in Latin America. Throughout the summer of 2024, the course “Application of biodigestion for the agro-ecological and bio-economic transformation of agri-food systems in Ibero-America” reached more than 90 selected biogas experts, practitioners, and decision-makers from six countries in the region.
The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacities of decision-makers and academics in order to generate the necessary political and institutional support to scale up the implementation of biodigester technologies in Ibero-America. This will help transform agri-food systems at the family farming level in the region, based on agroecology and bioeconomic approaches.
The online course featured five consecutive modules, co-created by RedBioLAC, a network promoting applied research on biodigesters, and Asobiogás, an advocate for anaerobic biodigestion technology in Costa Rica. In collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), these modules were integrated into IICA’s online learning platform, making the content accessible to participants across the region.
Upon completing the online modules, participants were invited to take part in three field visits aimed at fostering the exchange of practical knowledge and experience:
In Guatemala, a workshop was held at the Central Agricultural Farm, focusing on biodigestion applications in local agricultural settings.
In Costa Rica, two workshops showcased the basics and applications of the VioGaz biodigester, as well as the potential of biogas and biol.
Finally, in Colombia, participants visited Cosecha Real Farm in Silvania, Cundinamarca, to observe biodigester technology in action.
From both the online modules and the field excursions, participants gained key insights into the competitive advantages of low-cost biodigesters in Latin America. However, it became clear that success depends on adapting the technology to the unique needs of each country. Additionally, there was a strong interest in creating strategic alliances among government agencies, implementation companies, and producers to facilitate the broader adoption of small-scale biogas production.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our partner organizations for their invaluable support and collaboration, which made this initiative a success.
