Ouagadougou: In an interview with AIB, Dr. Adama Ouattara, Research Attaché in Soil Sciences and coordinator of the VALWAS project at the Cotton and Textile Fibres Program of the Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA), presented a research project which aims to valorize slaughterhouse waste through the production of enriched composts and poultry feed. According to him, this initiative should help to strengthen the productivity of agricultural and livestock systems while reducing the environmental nuisances linked to the management of this waste. According to Burkina Information Agency, the project aims to transform waste from slaughterhouses into usable products for agricultural and livestock production systems. Dr. Adama Ouattara explained that the work began with a characterization of the different types of waste produced in slaughterhouses to identify those with potential for use in agricultural and livestock production systems. "We want to valorize slaughterhouse waste to contribute to the establishment of productive and resilient agricultural systems," he stated. The coordinator of the VALWAS project explained that the researchers selected several categories of waste, including blood, bones, horns, hooves, and poultry feathers. According to the researcher, the project is structured around six components, the first of which is dedicated to the inventory and characterization of waste available in slaughterhouses. The second focuses on the production of enriched compost, the third on the agronomic advantages of bio-inputs, the fourth on the development of poultry/livestock feed, the fifth on the socio-economic advantages of waste use, and the sixth on the dissemination of co-designed good agroecological practices. "This activity is being conducted by a team from INERA in collaboration with researchers and teacher-researchers from the Institute of Research in Applied Sciences and Technologies (IRSTA), Nazi BONI University (UNB) and the National School of Agricultural Training of Matourkou (ENAFA) in order to determine the most suitable uses for each type of waste," he said. Regarding crop production, Dr. Ouattara added that researchers are developing enriched composts from powders made from horns, bones, and hooves, and that these formulations aim to improve soil fertility while increasing agricultural yields. "In the livestock sector, blood, horns, and hooves are incorporated with other ingredients to produce poultry feed," he continued. The Soil Science Research Associate explained that the selected waste is collected and then transformed, notably by grinding, before being integrated into the various formulations. "The project is currently in the product development phase and the first enriched formulations should be available within about a year," he maintained. For the promoters, this initiative could help reduce the nuisances associated with slaughterhouse waste while creating new resources for agricultural producers and livestock farmers. Note that this project is funded by the McKnig ht Foundation.