Circular Economy and Water Pollution (CEWP)
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Item United for progress: Ghana’s multi-institutional circular bioeconomy Innovation Hub(Journal Article, 2024-01) Agbefu, Dzifa; Drechsel, Pay; Amoah, PhilipAfter years of fragmented efforts to create circular approaches to waste management in Ghana, the new circular bio-economy (CBE) Innovation Hub in Ghana is bringing together diverse stakeholders to jointly promote existing CBE approaches through training, advice, demonstrations, and research, while fostering the development of new, accessible innovations.Item إعادة استخدام المياه في الشرق األوسط وشمال أفريقيا(Book, 2023-12-31) Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Al-Hamdi, M.; AbuZeid, K.Item Urban stakeholder analysis for food waste prevention and reduction in Sri Lanka(Report, 2023-12-12) Aheeyar, Mohamed M.M.; Jayathilake, Nilanthi; Bucatariu, C.; Reitemeier, Maren; Drechsel, PayMapping stakeholders and their potential roles for prevention and reduction of food waste (FW) supports a coherent, coordinated and complementary approach to quantification, causes identification and scaling up of feasible solutions for significant returns on investment. State and nonstate stakeholders were mapped in selected municipalities: Colombo metropolitan area (Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura-Kotte, Negombo, Kaduwela and Moratuwa municipal council areas), Jaffna, Kandy, Batticoloa, Kurunegala and Galle. Stakeholders were grouped into four clusters: producers, enterprises/food business operators, private/public/civil society organizations and households. The stakeholders’ maps guided sensitization and capacity-building sessions whose conclusions fed into the preparation of the National Roadmap on Urban Food Waste Prevention and Reduction for Households, Food services, Retailers and Wholesalers launched on 17 August 2021. According to the analysis, the institutions working on food and/or (bio-)waste can be divided into governmental, semi-governmental, private, and non-governmental. Food safety, quality control and waste management in Sri Lanka is under the umbrella of the central government, provincial council (PC) and local authorities(LAs) that cover governance (e.g. policies and regulations), production, trade, input supply, services, welfare support and research. However, duties and responsibilities are, sometimes, crosscutting and interrelated with overlaps that can lead to poor coordination. An array of institutions at central and provincial levels are engaged to strengthen the food production sector in Sri Lanka. The existing inter-institutional coordination mechanism could be improved. The coordination for knowledge generation and dissemination between national and provincial systems should be strengthened. The report was produced for the project Innovative approaches to reduce, recycle and reuse FW in urban Sri Lanka that was implemented under the oversight of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) from June 2019 to August 2021.Item Sewage sludge: a review of business models for resource recovery and reuse(Report, 2023-12-15) Taron, Avinandan; Singh, S.; Drechsel, Pay; Ravishankar, C.; Ulrich, AndreasIn many low- and middle-income countries, sewage sludge generated from wastewater treatment systems has potential environmental and health hazards. To tackle this challenge, there is a need for innovative options given the increasing concerns and policies restricting sewage sludge dumping in landfills and elsewhere, and a growing awareness about the resource value of sludge within a circular economy. In developed countries, water utilities, municipalities and the private sector are increasingly engaged in utilizing and innovating modern resource recovery technologies to capture biosolids, nutrients or energy from sewage sludge and reducing disposal. This study reviews existing approaches and business models for resource recovery and moves the discussion beyond technical feasibility. Case studies were analyzed in support of four main sets of business models depending on the targeted resource: (i) organic fertilizers, (ii) crop nutrients, (iii) energy, and (iv) organic fertilizers and nutrients along with energy. The extraction of organic fertilizers through dewatering, thickening, stabilization or long-term storage drives the first set of models followed by technological advances in phosphorus recovery. The business models on energy similarly start from conventional energy recovery processes (anaerobic digestion) and move toward incineration. The discussion covers recent advances in gasification and pyrolysis. Transforming sewage sludge into biochar, for example, can support soil fertility and carbon sequestration. The final set covers integrative approaches supporting soil fertility and energy needs. The critical step for emerging economies is to develop a wastewater management strategy and link it to a circular economy framework without having a negative impact on environmental and human health. While technologies and business models generally have a favorable policy environment, there is a lack of a regulatory framework that allows the marketing, use and export of recovered (waste-derived) resources for certain applications. For example, there needs to be an increase in industry acceptance of phosphorus recovered from sewage sludge to penetrate agricultural markets despite the currently still cheaper phosphate rock, which is a finite resource.Item Antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments: priorities and knowledge for water quality modelling [Abstract only](Conference Paper, 2023-01-19) Jampani, Mahesh; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Langan, Simon J.Item Antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments: priorities and knowledge for water quality modelling(Presentation, 2023-01-19) Jampani, Mahesh; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Langan, Simon J.Item Unlocking the power of one health partnership for curbing health-related risks from Akaki Watershed in Ethiopia(Blog Post, 2023-11-20) Tafesse, Yonas; Kibret, M.; Haile, Alemseged TamiruItem Water: amplifying impact through the CGIAR Initiative on one health(Blog Post, 2023-07-25) Mateo-Sagasta, JavierWater plays a crucial role as a key connector between the three components of One Health. What happens to water upstream affects humans and animals downstream. The concept of One Health recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environment health and emphasizes the importance of addressing health challenges through a holistic approach that integrates multiple disciplines and sectors. Globally, the health of water is affected by various water users and pollution sources including cities, towns, crops, livestock and industries. Water scarcity, water pollution and inadequate water management have profound impacts on the health of people and animals and the ecosystems where they co-exist. Climate change, population growth, increased per capita consumption and unsustainable production all aggravate this challenge.Item Modelling of antibiotic resistance in aquatic systems: a useful tool to protect human and ecosystem health(Blog Post, 2023-11-26) Jampani, Mahesh; Mateo-Sagasta, JavierAntibiotic resistance in aquatic systems puts the health of people and animals at risk from diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Scientists at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) are working with research partners on modelling of water quality to understand how antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes are transmitted in water systems. Their findings will guide interventions aimed at reducing water pollution and the spread of antibiotic resistance. In this post, IWMI researchers Mahesh Jampani and Javier Mateo-Sagasta discuss how water quality modelling can help tackle the threat of antibiotic resistance.Item A multi-criteria decision support tool for selecting circular economy business models(Brief, 2023-11-27) Somorin, Tosin; Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.; Ghosh, Surajit; Taron, Avinandan; Bodach, SusanneWaste management has become a pivotal public health and environmental question, particularly in developing nations, due to rapid industrialization, population growth, and inadequate policy. To foster a long-term pattern of progress, global trends are encouraging governments, policymakers, and international organizations to explore pathways for transitioning from linear to circular economy business models. Resource Recovery and Reuse (RRR) offers viable pathways with multiple value propositions beyond environmental benefits. However, the decision-making processes involved in the shaping and selection of business models often require weighing costs and benefits and making trade-offs among alternatives and competing priorities. Some costs and benefits are clearly identifiable and can be numerically expressed, yet many others cannot be readily determined. This technical report presents the conceptual framework underlying a multi-criteria-based decision support tool tailored to enable decisionmakers and practitioners to select appropriate and sustainable CE business models in the RRR context with positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes.Item Reducing food waste: how to make it work? A look at IWMI’s work on the international day of awareness of food loss and waste.(Blog Post, 2023-09-26) Perera, TaniaItem From waste to relief: unlocking the potential for food rescue in low- and middle-income countries(Conference Paper, 2023-09-20) Bodach, Susanne; Athukorala, Aruni Narmada; Wickramaarachchi, HasinthaFood rescue has emerged as a promising approach to address the interrelated issues of food insecurity and food waste. According to the food waste hierarchy, the next best strategy after food waste prevention is to donate surplus food for human consumption. However, while some countries have well-established networks of charities and government support to promote surplus food donation and food rescue in most developing countries is often less structured and smaller in scale. To gain insights into the current landscape of food rescue, this study thoroughly examined existing food rescue operations and systems, mainly from the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and the Philippines. The study also analysed several countries' food rescue policy environments to understand how an enabling environment can be created. A particular focus was set on food safety being a critical consideration when rescuing and donating surplus food. Simplified food safety guidelines, staff training, and adequate storage and transportation facilities are crucial to food safety. Effective partnerships between food rescue organizations, food businesses, government agencies, and other stakeholders are also critical to the success of food rescue efforts. The study found a need to develop such partnerships in developing countries, where they may be less established than in the Global North. To facilitate the development of an enabling environment for food rescue in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the study developed a set of templates, including relevant food safety guidelines, partnership contracts, and policy templates. These resources can serve as valuable tools for stakeholders in LMICs to promote and enhance food rescue efforts that can help address food insecurity and reduce food waste.Item On the feasibility of an agricultural revolution: Sri Lanka’s move to go 100% organic(Conference Paper, 2023-09-20) Drechsel, Pay; Madhuwanthi, Piumi; Nisansala, Duleesha; Ramamoorthi, Dushiya; Bandara, ThiliniIn April 2021, the Sri Lankan Government banned imports of agrochemicals, including chemical fertilizers, to make Sri Lanka the first fully organic and chemical fertilizer-free country globally. The ban was justified by human and environmental health concerns, such as many cases of kidney failure in the central parts of Sri Lanka. While previous policies had envisioned a stepwise transition, the sudden ban jolted the agriculture sector. However, it was aligned with the emerging national economic crisis with drastically declining foreign exchange reserves that restricted the import of commodities, including fertilizer for distribution at subsidized prices. The ban was also opportune because fertilizer prices peaked on international markets in 2022. Without any transitional time, the thrust for organic fertilizers failed to satisfy demand or obtain the required crop nutrients resulting in severe agricultural losses. After the first data on decreasing yields were revealed, the government lifted the chemical fertilizer ban on December 1, 2021, but it was too late as the cropping season had arrived. Without financial reserves to import fertilizer, the donor community was urged to assist. This paper addresses: (1) justification of the ban, (2) the feasibility of transitioning to organic fertilizers based on the available biomass to replace chemical fertilizers; and (3) the related cost implications. The scenarios focus on irrigated paddy rice and the plantation sector that underpin the national economy. Undervalued nutrient sources are also considered as well as the constraints to and implications of such a transition beyond Sri Lanka’s frontiers.Item Developing bankable water reuse projects: guidelines for planners, investors, project designers and operators(Brief, 2023-10-30) International Water Management InstituteItem Harmonious governance frameworks for water reuse: guidelines for planners, investors, project designers and operators(Brief, 2023-10-30) International Water Management InstituteItem Improve acceptance of water reuse: guidelines for planners, investors, project designers and operators(Brief, 2023-10-30) International Water Management InstituteItem Gender mainstreaming in water reuse: guidelines for planners, investors, project designers and operators(Brief, 2023-10-30) International Water Management InstituteItem The cultural, economic and regulatory environment affecting the adoption of marginal quality water and risk reduction measures(Book Chapter, 2023-09-08) Alcon, F.; Drechsel, PayItem Ecological risks and risk mitigation measures related to water quality and agriculture(Book Chapter, 2023-09-08) Lamizana, B.; Drechsel, PayItem Livestock and water quality(Book Chapter, 2023-09-08) Camillis, C. de; Drechsel, Pay; Raizman, E.