Poop Power - Turning Farm Waste into Fuel
[image credit: Jelle at Flickr under a Creative Commons license]
Researchers at Michigan State University are working on technology that could help small farms transform animal waste from pollutant to fuel. Through funding from both public and anonymous, private sources, MSU is planning an Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center. The Center will test methods for efficiently using bacteria to turn animal waste into biogas, which farms can in turn use in place of fossil fuels for things like electricity and heat. The aim is to make this an affordable option for small- to mid-sized farms. This technology simultaneously addresses two issues that farmers face: farm waste management and increased energy prices.
We’ve seen a dramatic increase in farm waste in the U.S., due in part to lax regulation. By providing farmers with a cost-effective, sustainable waste management solution, MSU researchers hope to improve rural area residents’ health and quality of life.
At the same time, rising energy prices have increased farmers’ expenditures for fertilizer and fuel. That translates into higher food prices. According to PhysOrg.com:
The MSU ADRE Center will develop ways to efficiently convert manure liquid into methane for heat and electricity while extracting fiber for soil enrichment or ethanol manufacture and water for irrigation. Other valuable output could include animal feed and algae, which can be processed into biofuels.
If MSU’s turn-key digester/microturbine modules achieve their desired results, small- and mid-sized farms could feasibly integrate a truly sustainable system for dealing with animal waste and their energy needs and maybe even help with the rising cost of food. I do wonder what sort of overall impact this program will have. From the sound of it they are not looking into solutions for larger, factory farms, the biggest culprits when it comes to animal waste pollution. With over $3 million in grants, though, who knows what’s next!
