Document Type
Research Report
Publication Date
2024
Abstract
Agriculture has a long history in Kenya with roots of both sustenance farming and commercial farming. Agriculture used to make up over two fifths of their GDP and while that number has shrunk, it still makes up around one fifth of the economy making it an important part of the job market. Subsistence farming is still a prevalent way of life in Kenya, especially in more rural areas. As a whole, the Kenyan agricultural industry employs and nourishes a large portion of the nation’s population and yet, in light of climate change, more and more farmers have become reliant on heavy fertilizer usage to efficiently increase production to serve the growing population. With that heavy fertilizer usage comes damage to the soil and surrounding waters, and because of this, farmers are turning towards organic farming. Organic farming is farming without the addition of synthetic fertilizers which often lead to polluted water and can strip soils of their natural nutrients. These organic farming operations produce healthier foods as well as make less of an environmental impact to their areas and their health. Sistema.bio aims to help farmers who are working towards a more sustainable tomorrow through their biodigester business. This biodigester helps farms take animal waste and create a bio gas for their homes which decreases costs and carbon emissions for their farms. The end product of this digestion also provides an organic fertilizer they can use, yet again decreasing overall farm production costs.
Recommended Citation
Garofalo, Jessica and Ingram, Mia, "Biodigestor Functionality and Commercialization of Organic Fertilizer for Smallholder and Productive Farms in Kenya" (2024). Miller Center Fellowship. 177.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/gsbf/177