From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and its project partners in December showcased Project Imifino at South African Breweries’ Ibhayi Brewery site in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, as a viable model for effluent treatment and agricultural development in the food and beverage sector. Marleny Arnoldi visited the site.

Marleny Arnoldi:

Project Imifino was part of the Flanders government-funded South African Industry Adaptation (SAIA) project, the first phase of which was concluded late last year.

Project Imifino started as an effluent treatment initiative by TaylorMade Solutions, which, by using ultra filtration technology by Flemish technology company Waterleau, has been scaled to treat about 250 m3 of wastewater a day for direct onsite reuse by the brewery and use irrigation for producing about 1 500 kg of packed spinach and other crops every month.

The project applies a circular economy approach using a green biological effluent treatment system. By integrating agricultural production with wastewater treatment from the brewery, it creates a profitable and sustainable local value chain while producing reusable water for the plant.

The treatment of effluent typically involves high energy consumption, the production of waste sludge, carbon emissions and costly processes, which are all being mitigated with the Imifino process.

TaylorMade Solutions director Dr Richard Taylor says the process also allows for the recovery of valuable nutrients from the effluent, which negates the environmental impacts associated with using fertiliser with the agricultural side of the operation.

He also believes the Imifino model is replicable to more industrial sites in South Africa, particularly those using anaerobic digestors in its manufacturing or water treatment process.

Taylor tells us more about the importance of partnerships to scale these kinds of solutions.

TaylorMade Solutions director Dr Richard Taylor…

Marleny Arnoldi:

From Unido’s point of view, South Africa national project coordinator Mchenge Nyoka shares his insight on the success of the Imifino project and the broader SAIA project that is forms a part of.

UNIDO South Africa national project coordinator Mchenge Nyoka...

Marleny Arnoldi:

Nyoka echoes Taylor’s view that collaboration is crucial to realise more green and circular economy type of initiatives.

Unido South Africa national project coordinator Mchenge Nyoka...

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.