Challenges

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, regional conflict and severe drought raised the market prices of crops, energy and fertilizer and caused food insecurity, which will increase poverty and hunger. Climate change has a direct impact on agricultural production, regarding which methane emission is the major cause. In 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, the growth of methane concentration in the atmosphere hit a record high, of which 60 percent came from human activities, such as animal husbandry. The pollution from animal waste in developing countries, such as Argentina, has caused social and health problems to both human communities and animal health.

Despite the rising awareness of applying biogas technology for environmental, energy, and economic benefits from the government and the public, Argentina still faces barriers that inhibit biogas development. This includes the gap between available technical professionals and the growing demand; the present process that restricts biogas fermentation due to the untreated high ammonia content in feedstock; the poor lab facilities for chemical analysis; the limited land application practices of digestate; and the lack of a plat- form for joint action and information- sharing.

Toward a Solution

To tackle the above challenges, the project entitled“Establishment of China-Argentina Biogas Development and Cooperation Centre,”supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China, was launched in response to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations’ call for a post-pandemic green recovery. The project is also a response to United Nations advocacy of One Health among the environment, animals and human beings, which consists of environment-friendly production through pollution control and chemical reduction, renewable energy capture through biogas utilization and a sustainable living environment.

The project aims to enhance human and institutional capacity in upgrading technologies and public awareness of biogas application as a way out to tackle climate change, energy shortages and chemical fertilizer overuse through partnership establishment based on activities that include joint research, training courses, seminars and pilots.

The project was jointly implemented by the Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (BIOMA), P.R.China and the National Institute of Agricultural Technologies (INTA), Argentina. The partnership between the two institutes is rooted in the trust built by Argentine participants of SSC training courses at BIOMA. Based on Argentina’s demand for organic waste treatment and utilization, BIOMA and INTA reached an agreement on promoting biogas development and cooperation as a pathway to meet the challenges of an increased demand for pollution control professionals in the rapidly growing animal husbandry industry, the high ammonia content in feedstock and limited opportunities for digestate application.

This demand-driven project is a milestone with systematic planning and comprehensive upgrading of biogas collaboration. During the three-year implementation from 2021 to 2023, the project provides best practices through training, discussion, innovation and demonstration and in-depth technical cooperation.

The outputs of the first year in 2021 include the completion of a Report on Biogas Development Potential in Argentina, two joint laboratory tests and test reports, “Laboratory study on the inhibition release in biogas fermentation process (BMP Test)” and “Laboratory Study: Experiment for strawberry planting using digestate”. The tests were done by both BIOMA and INTA in parallel.

BIOMA plays a role of remote control and advice on test plan development, schematic guidance, and deviation correction. In 2022, further relevant studies on biogas purification and digestate application on pasture crop planting are being replicated in a larger scale, along with a training course and a seminar for Argentinian participants. In 2023, the technologies integrated from the experimental tests will be applied in an ongoing biogas plant for demonstration.

The parallel tests and joint study on the potential for biogas develop- ment in Argentina have brought together expertise and professionals in both China and Argentina for shared benefits in green development. As a bilateral platform the project shows its robust added value and sustainable impact from country to region. Owing to the smooth progress, the project has drawn interest from international organizations and government sectors. As a follow up, another project on green agriculture cooperation between China and Argentina was established with sponsorship from the Chinese Government. The new project connects the past, taken as a basis, and future demand to extend and upgrade the first project.

In the project, gender balance and racial equality can be seen in the composition of participants from both countries. Continuing education and regular and irregular exchanges were conducted from time to time. Knowledge- and information-sharing has formed the basis for fostering biogas professionals for the whole industry.

The project can be replicated if some conditions are met.

• First, an absolute demand assessment could be conducted in advance to identify the gaps between present available resources and the real demand and potential. The report on biogas development potential in Argentina works as a basis for the organization of further activities and projects.
• Second, mutual understanding and trust are crucial for the establishment of partnerships in bilateral projects. Subcontracting is necessary to specify the scope of work for each party.
• Third, mobilization of resources could involve expertise, provision of
• equipment and raw materials and in-kind inputs.