- 11 hours ago
In a Lagos market, spoiled pineapples and watermelons are turned into biogas. Plus: E-cargo bikes drive health and sustainability in Uganda.
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00:05this pineapple can power your phone no really it truly can this one fruit can produce enough
00:15energy to charge 10 phones and you know what the more sugar a fruit has the more energy it can
00:24produce and overripe fruit makes the best feel so where can you get a lot of overripe fruits at the
00:32market of course on a hot day you can't beat a cool slice of watermelon ecossae market in lagos is
00:45the
00:45place to come for fresh fruits but it spoils fast and the waste is dumped in this landfill across
00:52the road there is another solution one that helps the market traders too our profit has increased
00:58based on the reduction on cost it's mid-morning in ecossae and the market is bustling as usual
01:15sellers put their fruit on display mostly pineapples and watermelons three times a week
01:21these collectors go around and collect what becomes value fuel for the market's own biogas power plants
01:30plants manager Oladele Fagbemi shows us around we are trying to get a fruit waste the one we are going
01:39to use for the shredding in the biogas plants so presently now this is part of the people that we
01:44are getting their waste so with this we are able to generate light for them with the help of the
01:53marketers too because without them we won't be able to achieve this 30 tons of fruit peels vegetable
01:59trimmings and unsold produce are left over here every day all refuse used to go in one bin but now
02:07the
02:08traders know that waste separation matters organic waste can be turned into biogas and therefore energy
02:15but the process is long and complicated we head to the processing hole to see what happens next the fruit
02:25is smashed to pieces manually it looks dangerous but the workers know how to handle their knives then the
02:32fruit gets shredded in this machine at least that's the plan but there seems to be a technical problem
02:39today the machines running too slowly and there's no quick fix but that gives us time to explore the
02:48market a little bit and see what impact the biogas plants has had so far the plants is a pilot
02:57project
02:57funded by the lagos state government and c40 an international alliance for big cities solar panels
03:05make sure that the plants can power up autonomously the biogas plants keeps on market lights at night
03:13when most deliveries happen making the area much safer especially for women right now it doesn't provide
03:22energy to all the stalls of the markets but a few of them benefit from it our profit has increased
03:29based on the
03:30reduction on costs like buying gas so well we don't know because they said we are going to be paying
03:37later so we
03:38don't we don't know but for now it has reduced cost for us just a few meters down from Zainab's
03:45kitchen someone else benefits from the biogas plants next door
03:48so Hamid runs this phone charging kiosk hundreds of people come here every day to charge phones batteries and other
03:56small
03:57devices for 300 naira or 20 cents it's a lifeline of the market and Hamid doesn't miss the time before
04:05the plant launched
04:06operations this biogas is beneficial for the market in general because there was no light here for about four or
04:13five years the phones are charged with the power provided by the plant and a
04:18gas from the plant is running low Hamid has a backup cylinder and a gas generator but he doesn't need
04:25it today
04:27back in the processing hole in the meantime the issue with the shredder has been fixed something was off with
04:33the motor
04:36now the chopped fruit finally gets shredded weighed and put into a big blender for one last round of mixing
04:44before it enters the digester
05:01and this is what's left over from the last batch we need to offload a little from here so that
05:07we can get the digester which is the organic fertilizer that is very useful
05:26The digester is basically the heart of the plant here is where the magic happens
05:31This repurposed shipping container is where the fruit turns into gas
05:37This valve is connected with the valve that enters the holding tank
05:42So after then once we are loading the fruits waste inside the digester
05:46So we have a motor for each one of them
05:48What the motor do is that you do a constant mixing
05:53During this process gases build up in the digester
05:57Catching them is the next step
05:59This is where we have the final stage
06:02This array of filters clears impurities and leaves behind pure methane gas
06:09Which is stored in bags like this that can hold 10 cubic meters of gas
06:17Usually two gas generators hooked up to the bags harness the energy
06:21But they are having issues today
06:23So this small one has to do the job
06:28Not everything is working smoothly today at the eco-sink biogas plant
06:32But under ideal conditions
06:34It produces up to 30 kilowatt hours of energy per day
06:38So it's not that we are producing energy and giving it pro bono
06:43If an investor comes in
06:47And you look at the maps
06:50Where the state wants to come in
06:52How do we need to sell the energy that is coming
06:56The next plan is dependent on the fund
06:59If successful
07:00Lagos state government wants to roll out similar projects
07:04Across the city's markets
07:06Here it's already creating jobs
07:08Providing lighting at night
07:09And cutting emissions from food waste
07:12Scaled up
07:13It could bring reliable energy
07:15To people living with an unstable power grid
07:20So I'm back in Berlin now
07:22And I already missed the pineapples from Ecosi market
07:25But something in my kitchen
07:27Suddenly looked a little bit more interesting
07:29I'm speaking about this little bin over here
07:32Because this is where I collect my organic waste
07:36So in Germany organic waste is collected in bins like this
07:40At large
07:42And guess what?
07:43This is going to be turned into biogas and compost
07:46Just like in Lagos
07:47Exactly
07:48And what struck me are the possibilities for scaling
07:51Lagos produces so much waste
07:53And around half of it is organic
07:55So this is not just about cleaning up
07:57It's also about energy
07:59I've been to the Ecosi market many times for fresh fruits
08:03But this time I saw the market quite differently
08:06It is still a pilot project
08:08Yes, not everything worked perfectly when we filmed
08:11Yes, but the potential is huge
08:14And for someone like me who likes watermelons
08:16Seeing how the biogas plant works
08:18Gives me a different perspective about waste management in a city like Lagos
08:24I will never think of pineapples in the same way again
08:28But I still prefer to eat it straight from the plant
08:32The thing is, so many of us live in cities
08:36We need to go to the market for our fruit
08:39But how to make sure it really stays fresh?
08:43Cold temperatures are the game changer
08:49This can house up to three to four tons of vegetables
08:54And it's coming up
08:59What's coming is cold air
09:01It provides a crucial solution to one of the biggest problems in Nigeria's supply chain of fresh produce
09:08Scorching heat and limited refrigeration options mean fruit and vegetables rot quickly
09:14Yusuf Shamsu sells tomatoes and peppers at a market in Lagos
09:19Keeping them fresh is a daily struggle
09:22Since I started this business, I've lost plenty of money
09:27Sometimes I buy a basket of fresh crops
09:30Only to find that many are already spoiled underneath
09:35I sort out the good ones and throw away the bad ones
09:41It's a problem that doesn't start in the market
09:43But further back in the supply chain
09:46Farmer Hamzat Tomilayo says an even demand also plays a role
09:51Sometimes you might have peak periods where you have customers requesting to buy
09:56And there are times where there is glut
09:57Where nobody wants to buy
09:59At that point, what do you do with your produce?
10:01You can't eat all of them
10:02If we don't get to sell out these things, they go to waste
10:06Many farms lack storage facilities that could keep produce from spoiling
10:10The same problem exists when food gets transported across the country
10:14In fact, continuous cooling is not guaranteed at any point in the supply chain
10:22There are lots of things that make it difficult for farmers to store
10:25One, farmers don't have the money to say we want to start renting a space
10:31Or look for a space where we want to store
10:33Not everybody can afford having a freezer
10:37Having a cold truck
10:38Or have it somewhere cool and regulated where you can sell your product
10:43Companies like EcoTutu want to transform Nigeria's food supply chains
10:48To make sure produce stays fresh from farm to market
10:51One solution is a cooling as a service approach
10:55With these solar powered energy efficient cold storage containers
11:03So this is our cold storage facility
11:07Whether fruity or leafy vegetables
11:10This can house up to three to four tons of vegetables
11:15And it's coming up
11:17We don't have produce here at the moment
11:19But this is what we use
11:25Cold storage facilities can be set up close to farms, villages or in markets
11:30For traders, the cost can be worth it
11:33For around 200 naira a day, roughly 10 euro cents
11:36A crate of tomatoes can be kept fresh instead of rotting
11:40That's only about 2% of the potential profit from a single crate
11:45For the cold storage facility, it has really been a great improvement
11:51Before there used to be the anxiousness of
11:56If I harvest today, I have to sell today
11:58Because if I don't sell, I'm losing money
12:00So the cold storage has come in in a way
12:03To help preserve this produce
12:05Improve their shelf life
12:09But the founder of the company knows that food waste isn't just an economic issue
12:13The methane released when organic waste decomposes
12:17Is a greenhouse gas that's harmful to the environment
12:23When food waste is generated
12:24It ends up anywhere and everywhere
12:28Environment is affected, humans are affected, animals are affected as well
12:31We are not in the business of just providing cold room
12:34We are in the business of enabling other businesses
12:36To grow, to expand
12:38So that we can then feed our population with healthy quality food
12:43For farmers, traders and consumers
12:46Better storage and continuous cooling means less food wasted
12:50More income and a more reliable supply
12:53Expanding access to affordable refrigeration across the supply chain
12:58Is key to tackling one of the biggest hidden challenges in Africa's food system
13:06With the fuel prices, what they are
13:09Many people are on electric bicycles
13:12And not only because they cut running costs
13:15Especially in rural areas
13:17They provide freedom and flexibility
13:19In some cases, that can be a matter of life and death
13:26This nurse in Kasolwe, a village in eastern Uganda
13:30Is getting ready for today's mission
13:32Saving lives with jobs
13:35Musamba Aisha has been working as a village nurse since 2002
13:39Today, she's heading out with her new electric bike to vaccinate children
13:45Her new ride gets her where she's needed quickly
13:50The bike saves children's lives
13:53Because parents often don't immunize their children
13:56Because of the distance involved
13:58With this bike, we can come straight to their homes
14:03Before Aisha and her medical team got their electric bike
14:07They used to travel from village to village on a regular bike
14:11To provide basic health services
14:14The medical team's e-bike was a donation
14:17As a part of a government program designed to boost immunization rates
14:21And now, Aisha can reach even more people every day
14:30It takes me about a day to work with 30 to 40 children
14:34The bike has helped me physically
14:37Because I don't use as much energy riding up hills
14:41It's the same whether the surface is sloping or flat
14:45And I also use it privately for short journeys
14:48Which helps me save money on transport
14:55Aisha's bike is designed for African roads
14:58That means big tires, a sturdy frame and rack
15:02And of course, a long-lasting battery
15:05A reliable electricity supply is still problematic in rural areas
15:10So the ability to charge with solar power is a huge advantage
15:19The bikes have come to Uganda via the African bicycle NGO Fabio
15:24Which has partnered with Afri Cruise from Germany
15:28And they are manufactured in India
15:31While Aisha was given the bike for the health campaign
15:34They are usually leased, rented or bought
15:38Juice vendor Adam Chigenyi in Jinja
15:41Took the plunge
15:43And has customized his for mobile sales
15:46The increased range lets him reach more customers
15:49And it's paying off
15:51Of course
15:52I had a bike before with three tires
15:54And my service used to delay a little bit
15:57Because it was a manual bike
15:59But now since I've got this beast
16:03It takes me just only within 20 minutes to 30
16:06My juice is almost done
16:08And the clients are really happy about this innovation
16:12That I've done a little bit
16:13And it has really changed out of my life
16:16The project partners have built a solar service hub in Jinja
16:21For repairs and battery swaps
16:23Most service stations like this are planned in rural areas too
16:27Because such high-tech bikes are only useful
16:31If they can be properly maintained
16:36Voluntary nurse Gerald Nyende works with Aisha some 85 km north of Jinja
16:43As he prepares to deliver fresh water for homes
16:46He highlights the challenges of using e-bikes in such rural areas
16:51The bike makes our work easier
16:54But the spare parts are expensive
16:56We have to travel a long way to get hold of them
16:5924 km to Kamundi town
17:02Sometimes up to Jinja city
17:04A single tire costs about 12 euros
17:07And depending on the distance we are travelling
17:10We need two batteries
17:11And a high-voltage solar panel for charging
17:15The e-bike rollout has the support of the Ugandan government
17:19But it hopes to produce more domestically
17:22When it comes to local manufacturing
17:24We have a target of 65% localization
17:27Of all the products that we shall be doing
17:28And right now our current state
17:32We are about 35%
17:34Challenges remain
17:35But the impact of the e-bikes is already visible
17:38For business owners like Adam
17:40And health workers like Aisha
17:42They are more than just a vehicle
17:44They are tools for change
17:47As the wheels keep turning
17:49The bikes bring services where they are needed
17:52Help reduce emissions
17:53And open new path to clean mobility
18:12Only 57% of Rwanda's population
18:15Can access clean water within a 30 minute walk
18:18Poor water quality affects children's education opportunities too
18:23But in Kigali this school provides students with clean water straight from the tap
18:29We had to cook our water before it was safe to drink
18:32But now we don't have to do that anymore
18:33We can just drink it directly
18:36The water used here comes from the local water supplier
18:39And is cleaned with the system
18:41It runs through three filters that remove impurities
18:44One removes sediment
18:46The second uses charcoal to filter our tastes and odours
18:49And the third removes the finest pollutants like heavy metals
18:53And an ultraviolet light on top kills germs and bacteria
18:57With this, regular tap water becomes 100% safe to drink
19:01It's small scale but efficient enough to fill this 1,000 litre tank
19:07This is a sustainable solution that allows us to keep the water clean
19:11And protect our children from the risks associated with unsafe water
19:19Not only does the installed system limit health risk
19:23It also helps reduce plastic waste
19:25Students fill their water bottles instead of buying plastic bottled water
19:31A positive development given the limits of recycling infrastructure in Rwanda
19:35Installing more systems like this one, especially in public places and schools
19:40Could avoid plastic waste in the first place
19:42And secure better access to clean water for the population
19:50In the grasslands around Ambosele National Park in Kenya
19:54A new kind of rangers is on patrol these days
19:57Now they know their land by heart
20:01But doing this job wasn't open to them until recently
20:05Meet Team Lioness
20:11In a land where warriors have always been men
20:14A group of women are proving that they are just as capable
20:26Before, the community were not supporting us
20:29But we came to prove them
20:31And now many girls, even there in the community
20:35They have to ask her
20:36Is there any chance that I can give out my girl to work with you guys?
20:41Team Lioness is Kenya's first all-female ranger unit
20:45These Maasai women train not just to protect wildlife
20:49But to change minds
20:50Operating near Ambosele National Park
20:53They patrol one of the most poaching prone corridors in East Africa
20:59The challenges that we encounter while patrolling
21:02First, there's human wildlife conflict
21:05That is the very toughest
21:07Because, for example, when an elephant killed a person
21:11There's that pain in community
21:13Or a lion attacked the kettles that we have around
21:17So you feel that pain
21:19The second challenge that we encounter
21:21We don't have arms
21:23Whereby we collide with poachers
21:24They'll be very difficult for us to self-defense ourselves
21:27Because we don't have those arms
21:30To deal with armed poachers
21:32The team has to develop special strategies
21:36When we meet poachers
21:38We will have to put an ambush
21:42So we can call another team
21:45For example, the mobile unit
21:46Who have a vehicle
21:47They'll have to rush to where we are
21:50At least when we become a big team
21:53We'll have to arrest them
21:56Team Lioness has significantly contributed
21:59To reducing poaching incidents
22:01And fostering peaceful coexistence
22:03Between wildlife and local communities
22:09In 2019, the International Fund for Animal Welfare
22:13Selected eight Maasai women
22:15Young, determined and fearless
22:17They trained side by side with men
22:20Endured heat, the long walks and the wild terrain
22:25How Team Lioness came about
22:27It's actually an inspiration and a dream
22:29From the community women that we work with
22:31Because they felt underrepresented
22:34And it's them who actually pushed for this initiative
22:36To have women rangers as part of the team
22:39Women play a vital role
22:41Especially in peaceful negotiations
22:43With communities to calm them down
22:46And prevent retaliation
22:48This eventually helps IFO achieve its conservation goals
22:52In the Amboseli ecosystem
22:57The women are challenging traditional gender norms
23:00Within the Maasai community
23:01Not only standing guard over wildlife
23:04But also standing up for themselves
23:10The reaction of our family
23:12Towards being a ranger
23:13It was very difficult
23:14Because we know that women
23:16They do work at home
23:18Looking after kettles
23:19Looking after children
23:21And also house chores
23:24So we changed the
23:25That norms
23:27Of the community
23:29That the ladies also can do
23:32Better work outside the community
23:36Especially for the conservation
23:39It is not an easy job
23:40These women start their day before dawn
23:43They walk kilometers every day
23:45To patrol the park
23:47And be prepared for many different
23:49And dangerous situations
23:52We have to divide the group
23:54Into two
23:55The ones who will go patrol
23:57During the morning patrol
23:58And the other one will go to the incident
24:01In the evening
24:02Maybe the incident of Oka
24:04Or there is a fire in the bush
24:05Or there is a
24:07Human wildlife conflict
24:09The team that we left
24:11In the camp
24:12They will have to rush
24:13To the incident place
24:18What inspired me
24:19To be part of the Team Liners
24:21First of all
24:22I had passion
24:22Since I was born
24:24Because
24:25I live in a
24:26In Amboseli area
24:28Whereby we encounter the wildlife
24:30We share the same water points
24:32And you find
24:34There before
24:35In Amboseli
24:36We had rhino
24:37But for now
24:38We don't have rhino
24:39Because
24:40Poachers have killed
24:42And I think
24:44So if
24:44The work of rangers
24:45Then it has started there before
24:48For now
24:48We would have rhinos
24:50The other thing
24:50What inspired me
24:52To be a ranger
24:52You know
24:54In our community
24:55You find
24:56The female
24:56Were taken
24:57Like a weak point
24:59Whereby
25:00And they didn't have
25:01Any voice
25:02To talk
25:03Or to express themselves
25:05Because the women
25:06Are not there
25:07To be listening
25:08Then why not me?
25:10Team Lioness
25:11Shows that women
25:12When given the same trust
25:14And opportunities as men
25:15They can
25:16Not only protect
25:18But also
25:19Redefine tradition
25:26Now that's what I call
25:28Getting out of the house
25:30That's it for this show
25:31If you've got a story
25:33You want to tell us about
25:34Write to us
25:35At echo
25:36At dw.com
25:38And you can always get more
25:40On this
25:40On our channels
25:41And subscribe
25:42To the DW Environment newsletter
25:46See you there
25:54See you there
25:56See you there
26:04Bye
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