A public-private initiative found that the southern Chilean province of Valdivia has the potential to manufacture biogas, as well as biofertilizers, from organic waste produced on small farms. Biogas is a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and other gases that can be transformed into electrical or thermal energy. The organic waste available in the region includes manure and forage.

The use of centralized biodigesters to produce biogas could contribute to reducing polluting emissions from other energy sources.

It is an “inclusive” proposal that requires close coordination and commitments from the agents involved, and is something that can be replicated in other parts of the Chilean south, Tomás García-Huidobro, of the Agriculture Ministry's agricultural innovation foundation, told Tierramérica.