By Blake Jackson
Researchers from Cornell University and African partner institutions are developing a fertilizer made from treated human waste to improve sanitation, boost crop production, and reduce pollution in Kenya.
The fertilizer, known as KIYA Gold, is being tested as a low-cost alternative for farmers struggling with expensive commercial fertilizers and poor soil conditions.
The project is centered in Kisumu, Kenya, a city near Lake Victoria where informal settlements often lack proper sanitation systems. Untreated waste entering the lake has contributed to disease outbreaks and environmental damage, including declining fish populations. Researchers believe converting human waste into fertilizer could help solve several problems at once.
“At some point it occurred to us that there was a positive feedback loop possible here,” said Rebecca Nelson, a professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science and the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
“If we can use this excreta to make fertilizer, we can expand sanitation, support and improve public health and sanitation in the informal settlements, all while reducing nutrients and pathogens going into the lake.”
Nelson has worked alongside Charles Midega of Maseno University for several years studying circular nutrient systems in Africa. Their work later expanded through partnerships with farmer leader Roy Odawa, Kisumu Young Agripreneurs (KIYA), and sanitation company Fresh Life.
Waste collected from toilets in the Nyalenda settlement is processed into biochar and combined with treated urine to create the fertilizer.
“From pretty disgusting inputs, we get a beautiful product that’s completely inoffensive and very beneficial,” Nelson said.
Field trials have shown KIYA Gold performs similarly to synthetic fertilizers while also improving long-term soil health. Odawa said many young farmers cannot afford commercial products.
“Most people cannot afford synthetic fertilizer, so they just do farming without any additives and the soil is not in a good state,” he said.
“And here we are coming in with a solution. This can help young farmers to have a good profit margin that enables them to scale up. It’s exciting that we are also protecting our environment and protecting our fish in the lake.”
Photo Credit: rebecca-nelson
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