Resource recovery from livestock waste: cases and business models from the Global South

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cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Water Management Institute
cg.contributor.affiliationOmeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development
cg.contributor.affiliationAddis Ababa University
cg.contributor.affiliationBioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.donorCGIAR Trust Fund
cg.contributor.initiativeOne Health
cg.contributor.programAcceleratorSustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods
cg.coverage.regionLatin America and the Caribbean
cg.coverage.regionSub-Saharan Africa
cg.coverage.regionSouthern Asia
cg.coverage.regionSouth-eastern Asia
cg.creator.identifierAvinandan Taron: 0000-0001-6512-482X
cg.creator.identifierJavier Mateo-Sagasta: 0000-0003-4526-0140
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.5337/2025.215
cg.identifier.iwmilibraryH053952
cg.isbn978-92-9090-976-7
cg.number191
cg.placeColombo, Sri Lanka
cg.reviewStatusPeer Review
dc.contributor.authorTaron, Avinandan
dc.contributor.authorSathiskumar, Abinaya
dc.contributor.authorMateo-Sagasta, Javier
dc.contributor.authorSingha, R.
dc.contributor.authorDejen, Z. A.
dc.contributor.authorChipatecua, G. P.
dc.contributor.authorBastidas, R. R.
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-04T06:02:59Z
dc.date.available2025-07-04T06:02:59Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/175483
dc.titleResource recovery from livestock waste: cases and business models from the Global Southen
dcterms.abstractLivestock waste poses significant environmental and public health challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly through water pollution and the spread of infectious diseases. Nutrient-rich runoff from this waste contributes to eutrophication, while pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella contaminate surface waters, posing serious risks to human and animal health. Yet, this waste stream also presents opportunities for circular bioeconomy solutions. When converted into biogas, organic fertilizer, or aquaculture feed, livestock waste can help mitigate environmental harm, generate energy, enhance soil health, and support rural livelihoods. This report synthesizes findings from 135 global cases and further presents an in-depth analysis of 26 livestock waste recovery initiatives to highlight diverse models and regional strategies. The available data show that in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, biodigestion is primarily used for household or commercial energy and revenue generation. South and Southeast Asian countries, meanwhile, focus on producing compost, aquaculture feed, and vermicompost. Government support, including subsidies, incentives, and technical assistance, often underpins these efforts, sometimes in collaboration with the private sector. Three broad business models emerge: (i) energy and biofertilizer recovery, (ii) soil nutrient recovery, and (iii) food nutrient recovery for aquaculture. Government-led community initiatives tend to exhibit higher economic feasibility, while private-sector models tend to scale better commercially. With average payback periods of five to six years and cost-benefit ratios ranging from 1 to 2, these models offer scalable solutions—when backed by enabling policies, institutional coordination, and localized feasibility assessments—to promote sustainable rural development and address critical environmental risks.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.bibliographicCitationTaron, A.; Sathiskumar, A.; Mateo-Sagasta, J.; Singha, R.; Dejen, Z. A.; Chipatecua, G. P.; Bastidas, R. R. 2025. Resource recovery from livestock waste: cases and business models from the Global South. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 94p. (IWMI Research Report 191). doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2025.215
dcterms.extent94p.
dcterms.isPartOfIWMI Research Report
dcterms.issued2025-07-02
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.publisherInternational Water Management Institute
dcterms.subjectresource recovery
dcterms.subjectreuse
dcterms.subjectanimal wastes
dcterms.subjectlivestock production
dcterms.subjectbusiness models
dcterms.subjectcircular bioeconomy
dcterms.subjectecosystems
dcterms.subjectfinancial analysis
dcterms.subjectfeasibility studies
dcterms.subjectstakeholders
dcterms.subjectcase studies
dcterms.subjectGlobal South
dcterms.typeReport

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