ARUSHA: RESEARCHERS are exploring possibilities, to turn discarded sisal residues into valuable wood like products and new business opportunities and reduce cutting down more trees.
Research by Tanzanian scientists and partner institutions has demonstrated that sisal waste can be converted into wood-like materials, fertiliser, livestock feed and gas, offering ways to make better use of a resource that is largely thrown away.
The innovation can help reduce pressure on the country’s dwindling forests by providing an alternative to conventional timber while opening up fresh investment opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Tanzania Sisal Board (TSB) Director General Saad Kambona said only about two per cent of the sisal crop was used to produce fibre, leaving the remaining 98 per cent largely unused.
Turning that waste into useful products could help unlock more value from sisal production, reduce waste and create additional economic opportunities for the sector.
Speaking during a presentation of the research findings, Mr Kambona said the innovations offered opportunities to diversify the sisal industry, improve resource utilisation and support environmental conservation.
“Almost 98 per cent of the crop is currently being thrown away as waste, but the research has shown the potential to expand the use of sisal through the production of wood, gas and other products,” he said.
He said the innovations could generate additional income while reducing waste and supporting efforts to conserve forests.
The research is being conducted under the AgroVal project, formally known as Sustainable Valorisation of Agro-Industrial Residues through Integration of Food, Bioproducts and Bio-Energy Production.
The consortium brings together the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Tanzania, the Technical University of Denmark and Pwani University in Kenya, alongside other collaborating institutions.
NM-AIST researcher, Dr Clemence Ansbert, said the wood-like material could offer an alternative to conventional timber and help reduce dependence on wood obtained through tree felling.
“This will help us move towards a Green Tanzania by reducing dependence on wood from trees,” Dr Ansbert said.
If commercialised successfully, the material could provide an additional raw material for wood-based applications. However, its contribution to forest conservation will depend on production costs, market demand and the extent to which it can replace conventional timber.
Mr Kambona said TSB was working with research institutions, including the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), NM-AIST, the University of Dar es Salaam and the University of Dodoma, to develop commercially viable uses for agricultural residues.
He said the presentation marked an initial step towards sharing the findings with a wider audience, with further engagement planned with stakeholders, particularly potential investors.
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Lead researcher, Professor Anthony Mshandete, said the project focused on transforming agricultural and agro-industrial waste into valuable products and clean bioenergy, promoting more efficient use of natural resources.
The research also explores the production of fertiliser using black soldier fly larvae to process sisal waste into useful agricultural inputs.
Dr Aziza Konyo said the team had established the potential of the process, which uses the insects to convert organic waste into biomass and nutrient-rich material for agricultural applications.
She said researchers had collaborated with African Fibres Company at Mdaula to establish a small-scale fertiliser production plant.
The consortium is also exploring bioenergy production, including plans to establish a larger facility capable of converting waste into gas.
The project began on March 1, 2022, and is scheduled to run until May 31, 2027. It has received funding of 11,998,331 Danish kroner through Denmark’s research cooperation funding arrangements.
As the project progresses, researchers and TSB are seeking investors to help turn the findings into commercially viable products. The initiative could create new markets for sisal residues, diversify the country’s sisal industry and contribute to environmental conservation.