True sustainability in modern farming is about more than just food production; it is about building energy independence and financial resilience. Industry experts join us to discuss Bio360 Africa, exploring bioenergy, innovation, and sustainability.
Paul Stuart, CEO and director of Bioenergy Events and Services (BEES); Gordon Ayres, secretary general of the Southern African Biogas Industry Association (SABIA); and Lusani Khubana, project officer at Madam Waste, unpack the upcoming Bio360 Africa event at the Gallagher Convention Centre on 17 to 18 June 2026. They discuss how it is designed to help farmers bridge the gap between agricultural overheads and new income streams.
With fluctuations in global markets leaving traditional farming activities vulnerable, the panel highlights why plugging into a dedicated bioenergy network is no longer optional for producers looking to secure their futures.
“One thing that farming experiences the world over is a need to diversify its income,” Stuart says.
“Obviously, the main purpose of farming is to produce food for the table, but then with fluctuations in the markets, some farming activities can be quite vulnerable. So, the idea of having diversified income streams from the products and the co-products, and that’s what we’re talking about – talking about the co-products, which some people would describe as residues or wastes, but these are really co-products of agriculture.”
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An Africa-ready approach to innovation
Ayres explains that to ensure these solutions actually work on the ground, the BEES team has adapted 20 years of international experience by pivoting away from the failed, top-down funding models of the past.
“The whole approach by the BEES team has been totally different; it’s all been about collaboration, talking to locals, local businesses, and local government,” he notes.
By partnering directly with local entities like SABIA, this melded approach aims to create a more sustainable framework, especially as the South African market reaches a turning point in its understanding of green technologies.
“We are starting to see biogas in schools, industries grabbing it, and water processing working with it,” Ayres adds.
Turning agricultural waste into a gold mine
For farmers sitting on tonnes of crop residue and livestock waste, Khubana emphasises that the agricultural sector holds the most valuable asset in the bioeconomy: the feedstock itself.
“To the farmers listening out there, the waste you’re sitting on is literally a gold mine; it’s a lot of money, actually.
“Farmers sit in a very nice seat because they already have the feedstock. This waste can generate electricity and heat, while simultaneously solving the problem of waste disposal. Instead of spending money to throw it away, they can get their money back,” Khubana says.
Beyond generating on-farm power, Khubana points out that the processing of this waste yields digestate, a nitrogen-rich fertiliser that directly addresses the deficiencies in South African soils. This circular model ultimately shields producers from external market pressures.
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