For those of us who’ve grown up tending livestock, manure plays a key role in agriculture.

Manure boosts soil fertility, so farming is one sure way of getting ‘rid’ of it.

Manure attracts such a high demand that its sold besides the road in some places.

All we need to do is to part with some shillings and cents and we have a worthwhile soil amendment helping us to grow food.

But the value of manure need not stop at that.

MICROBES

Mineral fertilizers are good for our soils.

But manure takes the value a notch higher because it injects microscopic creatures called microbes in the soil.

These creatures take time to make a home in the soil (that’s why manure acts slowly), but they guarantee healthy soils over the longhaul.

These microorganisms help our crops take up nutrients easily, help fight disease causing agents and help improve soil fertility.

So where am I going with all this?

“I thought that the discussion was about biogas”, you say.

Very true.

These same microorganisms could also help convert manure into energy. 

METHANE

Intensive cattle farming is not considered environmental friendly simply because of the release of methane from cows (through farting:))

The global warming potential of methane is over 25 times higher than that of carbondioxide.

Even though this has made some environmentalists advocate for a total ban on commercial livestock farming, some of us are of a different idea.

Besides being a greenhouse gas, methane is also a fuel.

Now of course it may be a tall order to tap the gas as its released from cows but we could use bacteria in their gut to convert their dung into methane.

FUEL

Biogas is composed of mostly methane with a mixture of a couple of impurities.

When cow dung is mixed with some water, it forms a slurry which could be put in an enclosed container and monitored over time for biogas production.

Over time, the bacteria from the cow’s gut converts the complex material in the dung into a mixture of many gases (including methane).

Because methane is less dense than air, it rises and is collected over time.

And a couple of businesses have capitalized on this by coming up with biodigester models to help manage livestock and human waste.

But there are more opportunities on offer for the prospective entrepreneur in the field of biogas.

DOMESTIC WASTE

A number of start ups have capitalized on the need to convert domestic waste into biogas
such as Homebiogas Ltd.

These flexible rubber or polyethylene units have a compartment where a family can dispose off domestic waste.

In some cases, this waste is reacted with a concoction of gut bacteria from cows called innoculum.

Over time, methane accumulates and could be used by families for their energy needs.

What makes this model unique is that it can be used in urban settings.

One needs not have cattle to generate energy.

All they need is a constant supply of kitchen waste.

However, research and development are key in availing more efficient technologies to customers.

So there’s room for innovation.

IN CONCLUSION

In today’s consumer-driven world, nothing sells like convenience.

So if we present a product that puts power in the hands of a consumer they will buy it without a second thought.

Helping a household generate energy using their own domestic waste is putting power in their hands.

Yes…there’s work to be done to improve the process.

But its worth it.