Last April, our colleagues from the Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), Tunisian partner of CEOMED, finalised the sampling of organic waste from the wholesale market of fruit and vegetables. The results allowed us to collect the information needed to start the piloting activities (one two-phase anaerobic reactor) in Tunisia.
The first step was the collection of waste in the open local markets. The sellers were collaborating strongly with the project, and the technicians explained to them what kind of residues are needed.
 

Then, the technicians from the CBS started the sampling and sorting to select the most favourable mix of fruit and vegetables for the digestion and conversion of waste.
 

These residues were fed to the anaerobic digestion (process by which some microorganisms degrade biological material without using oxygen) in one reactor tank for fermenting the fruits and vegetables.

Single and two phases anaerobic systems were designed for the treatment of waste at the pilot scale. These research activities were the first approximation to the final pilot case that is under specification now. The tender will be available in the following weeks.
The results about the characteristics of the fertiliser obtained from the vegetable and fruit waste showed good results. Now, the fertiliser is being used in a planting tomatoes as a test to know the potentiality of the fertiliser in a real case.