A member of Helen’s Daughters is now equipped with new technology to turn farm waste into useful resources, following the handover of a biodigester under the Recycle Organics Programme.
The system was officially handed over to farmer Glyndia Charles by Recycle Organics consultant Hayden Redhead. Charles will be among the beneficiaries using the biodigester as part of a broader push to promote sustainable waste management and climate-smart farming practices.
Redhead described the technology as both practical and efficient for small-scale farmers.
“These models are quite innovative…they separate the waste; you get a liquid fraction of waste, you get a solid fraction, you get gas. They are…relatively easy to operate… and can last up to 15 years,” he explained.
Biodigesters convert organic waste into usable outputs, helping farmers reduce waste and get more value from what would otherwise be discarded.
For Charles, the system represents a direct benefit to her farming operations.
“For this system, the animal manure and organic materials generated on our farm will now be converted into cleaner cooking gas and valuable liquid fertiliser,” she said.
In addition to receiving the equipment, Charles will also participate in online training facilitated by HomeBiogas to ensure the proper use, management, and monitoring of the system.
The initiative forms part of a wider effort to reduce methane emissions and improve organic waste management across Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean and Pacific.
Officials say the project also highlights agriculture’s role in addressing local waste challenges. Zonal Supervisor at the Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority, Davis Mathurin, noted that about 50 percent of the island’s waste stream is organic.
“As we work to improve the efficiency and sustainability of our nation’s waste management system, it is essential that we move away from just the practice of disposal but rather prioritise environmental protection through waste reduction and waste recovery,” Mathurin said.
Executive Director and Founder of Helen’s Daughters, Keithlin Caroo-Afrifa, explained that the biodigester is expected to serve as a demonstration tool for other members of the Helen’s Daughters network, supporting knowledge sharing and encouraging wider adoption of sustainable farming practices.
“We are not simply handing over equipment, we are investing in an idea that the future of agriculture in the Caribbean can be smarter, more regenerative and deeply connected to the natural cycles that sustain us. Because when we learn to treat what we call waste as a resource, we begin to see agriculture not just as a production but as renewal.”
Bravo, bravo, bravo…