Biotech Updates

UTZ Certified's Coffee Waste-to-Energy Project Benefits Central America Farmers

September 3, 2014
http://www.waste-management-world.com/articles/2014/08/coffee-waste-to-energy-project-brings-biogas-to-central-america-farmers.html

Coffee waste treatment systems are enabling Central American coffee farmers to generate energy from waste under a project led by the NGO, UTZ Certified.

According to the organization, the project proved that it's possible to generate energy, tackle climate change and protect water resources by treating discharges from coffee mills. The project has been implemented in farms and has already achieved better indoor environments for those who replaced firewood with domestic gas stoves for cooking.

The project started in 2010, addressing environmental and health problems caused by the wastewater produced in the coffee industry. UTZ explained that the solid waste treatment mechanisms and wastewater treatment systems were installed in eight coffee farms in Nicaragua, ten in Honduras and one in Guatemala.

 "Coffee production is only environmentally sustainable when water is used efficiently and polluted water from the wet-mill process is treated," explained Han De Groot, executive director at UTZ Certified.