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Environmental challenges such as soil degradation, rising volumes of organic waste, and the increasing cost of farm inputs continue to influence the future of agriculture in East Africa. Within these challenges lies the opportunity of converting waste into a sustainable resource that restores soil health and strengthens farming systems. This notion is embedded in the work of Dr Cecilia China, a scientist passionate about transforming industrial and agricultural waste into practical, sustainable solutions. She is a beneficiary of cohort IV BioInnovate Africa Fellowship for Women Scientists. Read her full bio here.
Cecilia was hosted for her three-month fellowship at ITRACOM-FOMI in Bujumbura, Burundi, under the mentorship of Dr Syldie Bizimana. Her fellowship research supported the development of Rhizobia mycorrhizae-based biofertilizer for smallholder farmers in East Africa, a BioInnovate Africa-supported project that is closely aligned with her work at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Tanzania, on transforming cashew husk residues and organic leather wastes into valuable agricultural inputs. “Large volumes of biodegradable wastes are generated in Tanzania,” she explains, “posing serious environmental challenges and increasing disposal costs. Addressing this issue requires sustainable solutions that promote waste-to-resource transformation.”
At the start of her fellowship, Cecilia immersed herself in learning how waste can be converted into practical, farmer-friendly inputs. Her first month focused on orientation, literature review, and training in biomass suitability and composting techniques. She was introduced to the departments and facilities at ITRACOM–FOMI, and made a presentation of her fellowship research concept to staff. During this period, she also gained experience in designing composting experiments and selecting appropriate additives. “These activities enriched my ability to implement a circular economy approach by enabling the conversion of abundant biomass residues into nutrient-rich biofertilizer,” she says.
The second month enhanced her laboratory experience. Cecilia was trained on the use of nutrient testing equipment and conducted routine monitoring of compost heaps, tracking temperature, pH changes, and nutrient variations over time. This practical exposure, she says, strengthened her ability to design effective composting systems for diverse biomass types and broadened her perspective on how different waste streams behave during decomposition.
By the third month, Cecilia had transitioned into data analysis, interpretation, and research consolidation. She examined decomposition dynamics and nutrient content across composting treatments, generating insights into compost maturity and effectiveness. Her findings revealed notable patterns that include urea-treated compost matured fastest, cow-urine-treated compost reached the highest thermophilic temperatures, and manure-treated compost decomposed more gradually, making it ideal for long-term systems. She also initiated collaboration plans between ITRACOM FOMI and NM-AIST, opening new channels for joint research.
Reflecting on her experience, Cecilia highlights several lessons. “Composting efficiency is highly influenced by biomass type, microbial inoculants, and process monitoring,” she says, adding that selecting additives must consider both local availability and economic feasibility, especially for rural communities. She believes that smallholder farmers and SMEs stand to benefit immensely when science-driven waste management is applied practically and affordably.
Now that she has completed her fellowship and is back home in Tanzania, Cecelia is utilising the knowledge she has gained to convert cashew husks and leather trimmings into biofertilizer. She also intends to train SMEs and farmer groups, and continue collaborating with ITRACOM–FOMI to co-develop regionally relevant biofertilizer solutions that support agricultural needs and East Africa’s growing bioeconomy.
