Biotreatments in the improvement of water and environmental management, and knowledge transfer

Partnership
Project

Background

One of the main priorities of the Izúcar de Matamoros City Council is to develop a programme for the treatment of solid and liquid waste, primarily by seeking alternative and complementary technologies to the Municipal Water Treatment Plant, which is unable to cope with the volume of pollutants in the municipality. The Universidad Tecnológica de Izúcar de Matamoros (UTIM) has worked on alternatives for wastewater treatment, such as micro-wetlands, but has not yet achieved the expected impact. The university has an analytical capacity in the laboratory that allows it to monitor the pollutant levels of the different waste products, but so far it lacks a technological solution to the problem on a large scale.

At the end of 2015, the transfer of technology from the Finlay Vaccine Institute to CENPALAB began for the production of effective microorganisms. Between 2017 and 2021, it developed the technological innovation project ‘Collection, production and evaluation of effective microorganisms for use in environmental and agricultural activities’, financed by FONCI, which resulted in the production and environmental release licences and the registration of the product ME Agroambiental®, for use in wastewater treatment.

For nearly a decade, CENPALAB has developed waste treatment technology through the production and use of Effective Microorganisms (EM), which have been used successfully in the watersheds of Havana and Mariel Bays, where a sanitation programme coordinated by the Havana Bay State Working Group is underway, with the collaboration of the German NGO BORDA. Through this NGO, Cuba and Germany now have an online platform: the German-Cuban Partnership for Sustainable Development in the Environmental Sector. The initiative is supported by the German Office for the Promotion of Trade and Investment in Cuba and the Ministry of Science. German environmental technologies are an asset in the areas of recycling, water management and wastewater treatment, as well as other challenges in Cuba and the region.

Entities and roles

Beneficiary entities

Municipio de Izúcar de Matamoros

Mexico

First provider entities

BioCubaFarma - Centro Nacional para la Producción de Animales de Laboratorio

Cuba

Second provider entities

Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association

Germany

Development challenges

The project's main challenges are:

Assess the main pollutant sources in the municipality of Izúcar de Matamoros and study the possibility of integrating waste treatment technology with the use of effective microorganisms (EM) to improve the environment at local and regional level.
Identify existing analytical capacities at the Universidad Territorial de Izúcar de Matamoros (UTIM), and provide general training on the topic of waste treatment through biotechnology methods for local development purposes.
Provide theoretical and practical training and education on the production and use of EM in the treatment of organic waste.
Develop project proposals on the transfer of EM technology to the municipality of Izúcar de Matamoros to contribute to bioremediation and environmental sanitation.

This Triangular Cooperation project aims to exchange and transfer knowledge and skills on the subject of wastewater treatment through biotechnology methods, using effective microorganism technology as a means of environmental protection and local development.

Triangular approach

This project involves the exchange and transfer of knowledge and skills on the subject of wastewater treatment by using biotechnology methods. It will also include training and replicating processes on the subject, through professional training of personnel involved in environmental management and sanitation, as well as their representative in the municipality of Izúcar de Matamoros. On the other hand, with the experience of experts, researchers and scientific personnel at CENPALAB in the development of technology for the production, development and use of EM techniques to reduce the amount of liquid pollutants discharged into the environment through wastewater, the project plans to undertake actions with the Izúcar de Matamoros municipality in Puebla to train personnel and evaluate the main sources of pollutants in the municipality of Izúcar de Matamoros to be treated with effective micro-organisms. All of the professional training acquired will benefit new experts in the field and help to raise awareness of the topic. CENPALAB has traditionally engaged in bilateral collaboration with UTIM, but a triangular exchange will enhance the training and innovation capacities of its personnel.

Sectoral approach - Contribution to the 2030 Agenda

Primary SDG

Goal 3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

Secondary SDG

Goal 6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

Goal 6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

ADELANTE SDG

Goal 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

Goal 10.4 Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality

Goal 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships

Territorial approach

Intervention methodology

The project will begin with a technical visit of 3 CENPALAB specialists to the state of Puebla and the municipalities of Izúcar de Matamoros, San Juan Epatlán and Atlixco in Mexico for 4 weeks, where they will carry out the survey, evaluation and study in conjunction with the city council. The aim is to assess the main pollutant sources in the municipality of Izúcar de Matamoros, determine the existing analysis capacities of the UTIM, evaluate the possibility of integrating waste treatment technology with the use of effective micro-organisms (EM), and offer comprehensive training on the subject of waste treatment through biotechnological methods. Following this meeting, training sessions will be established for the preparation and training of personnel in the production and use of EM in waste treatment, which will be carried out through lectures and practical activities. The results on the subject of EM in environmental sanitation in Cuba will be presented and analysed during a 10-day workshop, with 25 participants from Mexico.

Direct beneficiaries (individuals)

All persons participating in the activities of the project.

The beneficiaries of the project are all of the participants who will gain expertise through scientific exchange.

IZUCAR will have the benefit of training and educating its representatives in environmental protection, as well as personnel involved in the waste treatment using biotechnological methods, while CENPALAB will train professionals and technicians from UTIM, UACh and BUAP in the identification and characterisation of strains of effective microorganisms used in bioremediation.

Budget

EU contribution: 320,000.00 €

Co-financing - Triangular Cooperation Partnership: 80,000.00 €

Total budget: 400,000.00 €

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