Wastewater reuse for value chains

Event Type
World Water Week 2016

Location / Date
Stockholm, 28.08.2016

German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources

The seminar explored the opportunities of using wastewater and organic waste within multifunctional land-use systems for the production of food and energy crops in urban transition zones in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this approach the wastewater is treated in a target-oriented manner to be used for irrigation and nutrient supply of the respective land-use, considering hygienic as well as environmental aspects. Treating wastewater in this way is cost-effective and reduces the demand for freshwater and fertilizers, which is particularly important for small-holder farmers. Besides directly contributing to food and energy security, the multi-functional land-use systems will reduce the removal and collection of biomass (for heating and cooking) in the region. This will contribute to sustaining soil fertility and soil-related ecosystem services. Using wastewater in this way will provide opportunities to enhance/develop the value chain of all products (food crops, energy crops, energy from wastewater etc.). Capacity development at multiple levels is required to implement such an approach in a sustainable manner, which would address major issues of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Hinweis

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