Enhancing organic agricultural production through beneficial microorganism and waste-water utilization technology: A concept project and futures thinking approach

Paper Details

Research Paper 11/03/2024
Views (324) Download (47)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Enhancing organic agricultural production through beneficial microorganism and waste-water utilization technology: A concept project and futures thinking approach

Jomar L. Aban, Analyn V. Sagun, Jenilyn A. Asirot
J. Bio. Env. Sci.24( 3), 72-79, March 2024.
Certificate: JBES 2024 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

A multi-million organic agriculture innovation company in the Philippines was able to discover a bioactivator that enhances degradation and conversion of organic waste into fertilizers which can be used to improve plant growth and development. The problem is that many local communities are not aware of the functionality of this organic bioactivator. Because of this, majority of organic wastes are treated as something not useful and profitable. As a result, more than 50% of municipal wastes generated are organic wastes. The novel ideation in this concept project will contribute is the potential use of domestic liquid waste (laundry and dishwashing wastewater) to water backyard vegetables amended with the organic waste-now-turned-fertilizers, exploiting the ability of the BMB (beneficial microorganism bioactivator) to bioremediate wastewater to make it useful for vegetable production. Experimentation may be set up to compare vegetables grown in organic amended substrate versus those vegetables grown in organic amended substrates treated with liquid domestic wastes. If the bioactivators can provide a bioremediating effect, then plants grown in organic-amended-wastewater-treated will give more produce. This potential breakthrough will give multifold benefits; it will help local stakeholders generate more income through (1) organic fertilizer production; (2) re-use of wastewater and (3) organic vegetable production. Organic fertilizers are sold for 250 pesos per bag, wastewater re-use is estimated to save 250.00 pesos per household per day; and organic vegetable production is estimated to profit more than conventional vegetable production, based on published studies.

VIEWS 155

Aya RAM. 2017. PCAARRD organic vegetable project empowers women through improved livelihood. http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/portal/index.php/quick-information-dispatch/2948-pcaarrd-organic-vegetable-project-empowers-women-through-improved-livelihood

Borlaug N. 2004. Biotech can feed 8 billion. New Perspectives Quarterly 21(4), 97-102.

Chew KW, Chia SR, Yen HW, Nomanbhay S, Ho YC, Show PL. 2019. Transformation of biomass waste into sustainable organic fertilizers. Sustainability 11(8), 2266.

Connett 2010. Zero Wast: Theory and Practice Around the World. American Environmental Health Studies Project (AEHSP). https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/dsd/susdevtopics/sdt_pdfs/meetings2010/ss0110/Presentation_Paul_Connett.pdf

Eden M, Gerke HH, Houot S. 2017. Organic waste recycling in agriculture and related effects on soil water retention and plant available water: a review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 37(2), 1-21.

ELR Family Trading Co., Inc. (ELRTCI). 2018. The Organiculture Innovator Company. Beneficial Microorganism “Super Decomposer” – ELR Family Trading Co., Inc. http://elrfamilytrading.com/2018/12/14/beneficial-microorganism-super-decomposer/

Environmental Management Bureau. 2018. 3-Solid-Waste-1.8.pdf (emb.gov.ph)https://emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3-Solid-Waste-1.8.pdf

Hoornweg D, Bhada-Tata P. 2012. What a waste: a global review of solid waste management.

Itelima JU, Bang WJ, Onyimba IA, Sila MD, Egbere OJ. 2018. Bio-fertilizers as key player in enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity: a review.

Johansson E, Hussain A, Kuktaite R, Andersson SC, Olsson ME. 2014. Contribution of organically grown crops to human health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11(4), 3870-3893.

Khalid A, Arshad M, Anjum M, Mahmood T, Dawson L. 2011. The anaerobic digestion of solid organic waste. Waste management 31(8), 1737-1744.

Malusá E, Sas-Paszt L, Ciesielska J. 2012. Technologies for beneficial microorganisms inocula used as biofertilizers. The Scientific World Journal, 2012.

Orbeta AC. 2002. Population and poverty: A review of the links, evidence and implications for the Philippines.

Pelegrina LD, Nguyen MNR. 2017. Technologies to boost Philippine vegetable industry evaluated. http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/portal/index.php/quick-information-dispatch/2883-technologies-to-boost-philippine-vegetable-industry-evaluated 

Polprasert C. 2007. Organic waste recycling: technology and management. IWA publishing.

Ruiz RL. 2018. ELR Family Trading Co., Inc. The Organiculture Innovator Company.

Sapkota A. 2020. Organic Waste Recycling (Methods, Steps, Significance, Barriers). Microbe Notes. https://microbenotes.com/organic-waste-recycling

Sharma A, Chetani R. 2017. A review on the effect of organic and chemical fertilizers on plants. Int. J. Res. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol. 5, 677-680.

Seldman N. 2014. Zero Waste International Alliance: Working Towards a World Without Waste. Institute for Local Self-Rialance, Washington, DC. https://zwia.org/policies

Solid Waste Association of North America. 2019. https://swana.org/about

Song T. 2016. An impossible ideal: the use and misuse of zero waste. RCC Perspectives 3, 15-26.

Starbooks. 2021. DOST helps organic farmers of Angono, also seeks to fuse science and arts. https://portal.starbooks.ph/2021/08/02/dost-helps-organic-farmers-of-angono-also-seeks-to-fuse-science-and-art

Westerman PW, Bicudo JR. 2005. Management considerations for organic waste use in agriculture. Bioresource technology 96(2), 215-221.