Agricultural waste to energy and materials

Agricultural waste to energy and materials

A community of farmers faced a significant sanitation issue with an underutilized resource – 40,000 tons of mango waste, which created environmental and health risks. The waste was piling up without any productive use, highlighting the need for sustainable waste management.

ACTIVAE organized an innovation workshop, bringing together farmers and stakeholders to explore opportunities for transforming mango waste into valuable resources. The workshop focused on waste-to-energy solutions, new material production, and creating a circular economy around mango byproducts. Through collaborative ideation, participants identified methods to convert the mango waste into energy, as well as materials for local industries, tapping into the potential of this underused resource.

Outcome: The workshop generated 120 innovative ideas, with 30 immediately implementable solutions. These ideas led to the formation of three farmers’ cooperatives and the establishment of local production sites dedicated to mango byproducts, such as bioenergy, compost, and biodegradable materials. This approach not only solved the sanitation issue but also created economic opportunities, turning waste into a valuable resource with positive environmental and social impact.