Innovative Waste Management at Agroindustrias González: Transforming Manure into Energy and Organic Fertiliser

At Agroindustrias González, we understand that sustainability is not only about protecting the environment, but also about making the most of the resources we produce. A clear example of this is our efficient management of the waste generated by pig farming, in which we turn what many see as a problem into valuable resources: methane for heating and biol, a high value organic fertiliser.

Every kilo of pork we produce generates between 3 and 4 kilos of manure. Far from being a pollutant, this by product is transformed into a useful fertiliser through a controlled process. To achieve this, we use a multi stage anaerobic biodigester. Although the technology is not new, our innovative approach optimises the waste decomposition process.

The biodigester is a sealed pool that air cannot enter, allowing anaerobic bacteria to break down the manure efficiently. This process produces methane, a combustible gas that we use to heat the farrowing units and piglets, a key process for keeping the young pigs in a warm and comfortable environment. In this way, we make full use of the potential of the waste without generating any negative environmental impact.

But that is not all. After decomposition, we obtain biol, a liquid fertiliser that is a true ally for agriculture. Used in small quantities, it stimulates root growth in plants, as the bacteria release essential nutrients on contact with the soil. This fertiliser is not only ideal for crops such as coffee or on our own farms, it is also highly valued by flower growers, who use it to strengthen their plants.

Biol production is constant, generating between 5 and 10 cubic metres a day. Thanks to its high concentration, this fertiliser has great commercial value, and we also donate it to neighbouring farmers, who use it on their pastures and gardens, where it has also proven highly effective.

Our farms in Borja and Lago Agrio are designed to be efficient in water use and free of contamination risk. Thanks to the structure of the biodigesters, the waste does not seep into the rivers, but is instead transformed into useful products that benefit the community and the environment.

The treatment process is continuous and closely controlled. Every day, waste enters the biodigester chambers and, after 15 days of processing, becomes biol ready for use, without a single resource going to waste.

“We are proud that our experience in waste management has become a model for the industry to follow. From our first biodigester, created as a school project, to the refinement of the multi stage biodigester we use today, we continue to show that waste should not only be managed, but also put to work to generate value and wellbeing,” says Jorge González, manager of Agroindustrias González and creator of this system.

With this innovative management, we not only care for the environment, we also contribute to the circular economy, transforming the waste from our production into energy and fertiliser that benefit everyone. Because for us, every resource counts!