On January 27th, 2025, I attended an online lecture hosted by the MASHAV Agricultural Training Centre (MATC). The session, titled "Promoting Resilience & Adaptation to Climate Change in Agricultural Farms and Education Centres," was presented by Mr. Yair Teller, the Founder and Head of Global Impact at Home Biogas.
The talk explored real-world case studies from different regions, illustrating how innovative solutions are helping farms and educational institutions adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. From renewable energy integration to sustainable waste management and climate-smart farming practices, Mr. Teller demonstrated how these strategies have improved both resilience and resource efficiency.
One of the key takeaways was the power of simple yet impactful technologies—such as biogas systems—to transform agricultural operations, reduce dependence on non-renewable resources, and support environmental sustainability. Mr. Teller also emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing and collaboration between farms, communities, and educational centres in driving lasting change.
This post summarises the core ideas presented during the lecture, highlight standout examples of climate adaptation, and discuss actionable insights that can inspire similar initiatives in other contexts. This talk offered valuable perspectives on how we can build a more sustainable, climate-resilient future—lessons that are more important than ever in today’s rapidly changing world.
Home Gas Biogas Systems: Revolutionizing Sanitation and Agriculture
Home Gas is implementing biogas systems in thousands of schools across the globe, including Brazil, El Salvador, Kenya, Cameroon, Fiji, Costa Rica, Panama, Israel, and the USA. These systems serve as educational tools, teaching students about the environment, biology, chemistry, physics, and health, as well as promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students gain hands-on experience by using the systems, which also facilitates cross-community and cross-global collaboration.
Beyond Waste Management
The Home Gas biogas system is designed to process various organic wastes, such as food waste, animal waste, and even faeces. This waste is transformed into biogas for cooking, reducing reliance on wood and charcoal, and biofertilizer, which improves food production within the schools and supports sustainable agriculture. In addition, the Home Gas system provides bio-toilets, improving sanitation standards in schools.
- Improved Sanitation: Home Gas provides bio-toilets in schools, significantly improving sanitation.
- Health Benefits: The bio-toilets contribute to better health outcomes by reducing health problems related to poor sanitation
- Renewable Energy: These systems also produce renewable energy, improving the resources available to schools
- Waste Management: The bio-toilets are part of a comprehensive waste management system
- Two Types of Systems: There are two types of biogas
systems: one for animal and food waste that produces fertilizer that can
be applied to plants, and another for toilets, which produces gas and a
liquid fertilizer for use under the ground
How the Biogas System Works
Organic waste is placed into the system, where it remains for approximately 30 days. The system breaks down the waste, producing biogas and fertilizer daily, after a two-week start-up period. The carbon part of the waste is converted into gas, while the nutrients become fertilizer. Unlike traditional brick biogas systems which are dug into the ground, the Home Gas systems are prefabricated and modular, requiring minimal on-site construction and being easy to maintain due to their placement above ground.
Benefits of the Home Gas System
- Educational Platform: The biogas system serves as an educational platform, which is the same in every school, allowing for collaboration on projects across communities and countries.
- Upcycling: The systems enable the upcycling of waste into valuable resources such as energy and fertilizer
- Improved Health: By reducing the use of wood and charcoal for cooking, and providing bio-toilets, the systems contribute to improved health
- Food Security: The systems provide fertilizer, enhancing food production within school environments and contribute to food security
- Economic Empowerment: The systems increase profitability for farmers by enabling them to generate their own gas and fertilize more land
- Carbon Credit Markets: The systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions, allowing for the creation of carbon credit projects. Each system can save 9 to 10 tons of emissions per year. These carbon credits can be sold in voluntary and compliance markets, providing a way to finance the expansion of Home Gas projects
- Durability: The systems are designed to be robust, with a lifespan of 10–15 years. The prefabricated design allows for quality control and makes maintenance easier
The overall impact of the Home Gas project is significant, creating "greater shared social and economical value" compared to other projects, with an impact valued at over $400 per ton of carbon reduced.
Call to Action Home Gas is looking for partners to help finance and implement large-scale projects, including government agencies, NGOs, and private sector companies. By supporting Home Gas, you can help make a difference, mitigate carbon emissions, and make waste matter.
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