The regional office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Chilean Energy Ministry launched a manual on producing biogas in rural and agricultural contexts and using it as a source of energy and fertilizer.
The manual will be promoted to farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean.
9 February 2012: The Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO-RLC) and the Chilean Energy Ministry have launched a manual on producing biogas and using it as an energy source, particularly in rural and agricultural contexts.
At the launch ceremony in Santiago, Chile, Chilean and FAO officials stressed the potential benefits of biogas, including energy production for electricity, heating and cooking, management of organic wastes, and the provision of bio-fertilizer for crops.
FAO Regional Representative Alan Bojanic said biogas technology can help farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in their efforts to achieve sustainability and shift to using renewable energy sources in farming operations. Chilean Energy Secretary Sergio del Campo stressed the manual’s contribution to realizing President Piñera’s state commitment to accelerate and increase the use of unconventional renewable energy sources in Chile.
The manual was produced by the Ministry, FAO-RLC and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). [FAO Press Release (Spanish)] [Publication: Biogas Manual (Spanish)]