In a momentous step towards strengthening food systems, Arba Minch University (AMU) convened a dynamic progress update discussion meeting at Main Campus, Senate Hall, to share updates on "The Rural - Urban Nexus: Establishing Nutrients Loop to Improve City Region Food Systems Resilience/RUNRES/ Project" Phase II; the initiative builds upon the foundation laid during its Phase I, which commenced on May, 2019. Click here to see more photos.
Dr. Teklu Wegayehu, Vice President of Research and Cooperation at AMU and Project Coordinator, outlining the project's transformative impact on local communities, said, the project has effectively turned waste into valuable resources benefiting numerous enterprises and setting the stage for future innovations. The focus of the project has always been on creating sustainable practices that connect urban and rural ecosystems recycling in building circular economy, Dr. Teklu stated. The project's regional impact will extend its operations into the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and South Africa in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr. Teklu highlighted.
The Project Manager, Mr. Abayneh Feyso, provided a comprehensive overview of the achievements and challenges encountered during the first phase; from 14 business plans submitted, the initiative saw three final products and four input supply ultimately supporting seven micro and small-scale associations, he said. Noteworthy advancements included the processing of banana into diverse products and the conversion of municipal waste including human urine into Agricultural inputs, compost and struvite precipitate, to supply for local farmers; this makes it a remarkable shift towards sustainable waste management practices, he noted.
The RUNRES Project Phase II aims to scale up Phase-I piloted innovations and transfer feasible technologies to other city regions of Gamo Zone, Mr. Abayneh said, announcing the upcoming launch of compost technology in Birbir town, Gamo zone. Further giving activity details, he said that fostering connections between urban waste management sector and rural agricultural sectors through nutrient recycling, generating sustainable income, creating job opportunities for women and youth and promoting environmental cleanliness are on the card, he reiterated.
A founder and Manager of the “እኛን ነው ማየት” 'Egnan New Mayet' Compost Production Association, Mr. Bogale Bitane, sharing the success story of AMU-RUNRES project, said, the association recently installed a machine that drastically cuts compost pile turning and mixing time from weeks to less than 5 minutes. This innovation allowed them to produce organic compost from municipality sourced organic wastes with which farmers enhance their farmland fertility to improve productivity with a reasonable market connection.
The RUNRES Project, a flagship initiative of ETH Zurich World Food Systems Center, is funded by the Global Program for Food Security of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. This ambitious endeavor aims to co-establish safe, efficient, and socially acceptable innovations to close the nutrient loop and foster a circular economy that bolsters resilience in targeted city region food systems.
Arba Minch University
The Center of Bright Future!
For more Information Follow us on:-
Website - https://www.amu.edu.et/
Telegram - https://t.me/arbaminch_university
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ArbaMinchUniversityccd/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOO_nclhMo8M3r74OyPBlVA
Public and International Relations Executive
Arba Minch University
The Center of Bright Future!
For more Information Follow us on:-
Website - https://www.amu.edu.et/
Telegram - https://t.me/arbaminch_university
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ArbaMinchUniversityccd/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOO_nclhMo8M3r74OyPBlVA
Public and International Relations Executive