The issue of waste from livestock farming looms large on today’s environmental landscape.
With the escalating demand for animal products, the volume of waste produced in this sector continues to surge, posing a significant threat to environmental integrity and human well-being if not properly managed.
Professor Nanung Agus Fitriyanto, an esteemed figure in livestock product technology at the UGM Faculty of Animal Science, sheds light on the untapped potential of livestock waste management.
He envisions transforming this challenge into an opportunity that aligns with the livestock industry’s sustainability ethos and unlocks additional value.
“An innovative approach involves harnessing biogas, a byproduct of anaerobic digestion from animal waste, particularly feces, to yield methane,” he shared during his inaugural address titled “Strategy to Mitigate Livestock Industry Waste Impact Through Indigenous Material Utilization” at the UGM Senate Hall on (Mar. 5).
Professor Fitriyanto elaborated on the multifaceted utility of biogas, emphasizing its potential as an energy source for powering farms and local communities. Furthermore, purified biogas, stripped of CO2, H2O, and H2S, holds promise as an eco-friendly fuel for motor vehicles.
Additionally, the residue from anaerobic digestion can be repurposed as organic fertilizer or serve as a growth medium for lucrative oyster mushroom cultivation, enhancing economic viability.
Meanwhile, the challenge of managing solid waste, exemplified by poultry feathers from the chicken processing industry, presents its hurdles. These feathers, rich in keratin protein, pose difficulties in decomposition.
The professor highlighted ongoing efforts to leverage microbial enzymes for feather digestion, potentially transforming them into economically viable products.
“Livestock byproducts harbor considerable potential to enhance the value of derivative livestock products,” he emphasized.
Professor Fitriyanto underscored the importance of innovation in fostering new product development from livestock waste, offering a gateway to novel business ventures.
Such endeavors necessitate a fusion of technological innovation, efficient waste management strategies, supportive regulatory frameworks, and active stakeholder engagement across the livestock industry spectrum.
Recognizing the latent potential in livestock waste is key to forging a more sustainable livestock ecosystem with far-reaching environmental benefits.
Moreover, the professor stressed the imperative of comprehensive waste management, advocating for collective action involving communities, governmental bodies, and industry stakeholders.
Empowering local communities to monitor livestock industry activities actively is pivotal in ensuring environmental stewardship. Additionally, robust regulatory frameworks are indispensable in guiding industries toward sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Donnie