Project
SMP24002 Beyond Guacamole: Circular Solutions for Avocado Waste in Ethiopian Animal Nutrition - BO-69-002-069
Addressing Ethiopia's dual challenge of escalating avocado waste and feed shortages, this initiative, led by Alema Koudijs Feed PLC and Wageningen Livestock, strives to innovate in waste management. By unlocking the potential of avocado by-products in animal feed, the project aims to create a circular food system, fostering resilience and sustainability.
The project responds to Ethiopia's pressing issues of ever-increasing avocado waste while at the same time tackling the scarcity of livestock feed. Driven by the demand for avocado oil exports, avocado production increased by 3.8 times between 2016 and 2020 , resulting in a significant amount of residuals, including seeds, peels, and pomace, posing serious waste management challenges. Simultaneously, Ethiopia experienced a 4.8-fold surge in demand for feed ingredients between 2016 and 2020, reaching only 50% self-sufficiency by 2020. The project's innovation lies in addressing both challenges by incorporating local agri-food waste, specifically avocado by-products, into the animal feed industry.
The project's focus is dual: first, to comprehend variations in the nutritional value and antinutritional factors in avocado waste streams used for livestock; second, to establish a circular model by mapping avocado by-products' availability for the Ethiopian animal feed industry. Aiming for transformative impact, the project aligns with Circular Agriculture, targeting waste reduction, economic sustainability, and food security. It fosters collaboration, enhances resource efficiency, and engages local communities in circular practices.
The initiative envisions numerous outcomes, including waste reduction, economic sustainability through a circular supply chain, and improved animal feed quality. It aims to mitigate global market fluctuations by providing local ingredients for animal feed, lower production costs, and ensure a consistent supply of animal products to the market. The proposal involves an international collaboration model, establishing a framework for circular agricultural practices.
The innovative concept integrates circular economy principles into the avocado and animal feed industries, seeking WUR's expertise in Circular Agriculture Practices and the application of agri-food residuals in animal feed. Building on revalorization techniques and circular supply chain models, the project aims for pilot implementation, creating economic value and waste reduction. The project envisions a sustainable and circular future in Ethiopian animal nutrition, setting a precedent for international cooperation in circular agricultural practices.