Strengthening Food Systems and Clean Cooking: Lessons from the African Biodigester Component
Across the world, smallholder farms generate large amounts of agricultural and livestock waste that, when unmanaged, releases harmful greenhouse gases. Biodigesters offer a sustainable solution by converting this waste into biogas and bio-slurry, a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. By providing farmers with clean, reliable energy and reducing their reliance on costly chemical fertilizers, this solution improves soil fertility over the long term鈥攄riving higher crop yields and boosting farmers鈥� resilience to climate change.听
Through the听, a five-year initiative coordinated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), farmers across sub-Saharan Africa use biodigesters to regenerate soils, boost crop yields, and produce biogas for clean cooking and other productive uses. In 2024, 58 biodigester enterprises were engaged in the program. ABC supports the growth and long-term sustainability of a commercial biodigester sector in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali, Niger, and Uganda by strengthening enterprises, enabling market expansion through results-based financing, supporting the development of the biofertilizer value chain, raising consumer awareness, and improving the regulatory environment.听
Source: Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
A听Tool for听Enhanced Food Security听
by RVO highlights the strong potential of bio-slurry, a key output of biodigesters, to strengthen food security and build more resilient farming systems. The research found that bio-slurry significantly improves soil fertility, boosts crop yields, and reduces farmers鈥� reliance on costly and environmentally damaging chemical fertilizers. Farmers also reported greater resilience to pests, crop diseases, and climate stress. In Kenya, nearly 100% of biodigester-owning farmers saw improvements in crop quality after applying bio-slurry.听
Building on this evidence, RVO has proposed integrating food security impacts into the voluntary Gold Standard framework for biodigester projects. This would allow future biodigester carbon projects to credibly demonstrate their contributions to improved yields and food security and potentially access higher-value carbon credits. This is especially important in food-insecure regions, where the ability to generate premium credits could unlock greater investment and accelerate action to strengthen local food systems.听
Photo:听 SNV Uganda
Lessons听Learned听
A central lesson from ABC is that farmer adoption hinges on affordability and clear economic value听from听both听biogas and bio-slurry. Farmers commit to biodigesters when听they understand that the technology is not only a source of biogas but also a听high-value,听fertilizer-producing system that boosts crop productivity,听enhances soil health,听lowers input costs, and offers a tangible return on investment.听
Despite awareness and听demonstrated听benefits, many farmers struggle with听the听high upfront costs听of听biodigesters. In response, ABC has听formed听partnerships with microfinance institutions and banks, particularly in Uganda and Kenya, to create听low-cost credit lines听tailored to farmers,听including grace periods that reflect the time needed for digesters to become fully operational.听
Success Story听
One standout example听from the program听comes from Dr. David Mugabi, a veterinary doctor turned farmer in Masaka, Uganda. After struggling with the听high cost听of firewood to cook for his 17 farm workers, he installed a biodigester in 2023 with support from听ABC听and Biogas Solutions Uganda. Biogas quickly replaced firewood,听but the real transformation came from the bio-slurry, which revitalized his banana, coffee, and pasture fields,听and听boosted milk production.听He produces听over 1,200 litres of bio-slurry听per day and听is able to听sell the surplus to neighbouring farmers, generating enough income to pay his staff and expand operations. 鈥淚f you look at the money saved from not听buying听听vegetables, not buying agrochemicals,听not buying听firewood,听and health wise, we are already breaking even!鈥澨齢e says.听
Photo: SNV Uganda
References:
1 Buysman et al., Bio-slurry’s Contribution to Food Security: Integrating Biodigester Impacts into the Voluntary Gold Standard’s SDG 2 Framework, 2025.