Scaling out the recovery of nutrients and organic matter from faecal sludge for food production in Ghana: From Waste to Food (WaFo)

Purpose

To convert excreta into safe and efficient fertilizer pellets that could enhance agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and make fecal sludge reuse commercially attractive.

Activities

This project hypothesized that producing excreta pellets could be the solution. The project explored ways to produce safe, efficient and cost effective fertilizer pellets from FS. The project focused on developing a marketable product from this waste, and explored options for pelletization of fecal sludge composts to increase; marketability, general acceptability, ease of handling and on-farm distribution, and to improve fertilizer use efficiency and affordability. The project involved a multi-disciplinary team of economists, environmental scientists, agronomists and engineers. The collective name for our various excreta based fertilizer formulations is referred to as Fortifer.

Countries of activity

Location of main activity

Objectives

The main goal of the project is to convert excreta into safe and efficient fertilizer pellets that could enhance agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and make fecal sludge reuse attractive and profitable for private entrepreneurs.

Further information

Research or implementation partners:
• Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana
• Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Accra, Ghana
• Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), Accra, Ghana
• Valley View University, Accra, Ghana
• University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Filter tags

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Canadian government Composting, vermicomposting (solid waste), composting toilets Faecal sludge treatment processes Faeces or faecal sludge Fertiliser Food security and productive sanitation Global International NGO Resource recovery Sub-Saharan Africa Treatment of faecal sludge UK government

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