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Sometimes, sustainable innovation begins with practical, local solutions that utilise resources often overlooked. This idea is central to the work of Pauline Muigai, an environmental scientist and a beneficiary of the cohort IV BioInnovate Africa Fellowship for Women Scientists. She has a passion for research and sustainability in natural resource management, particularly in exploring how simple, locally available materials can help address environmental and agricultural challenges. Read her full bio here.
During her three-month fellowship, Pauline enhanced her skills in sustainable agriculture through a combination of technical training, fieldwork activities, and cross-institutional collaboration. Hosted at Hope Africa University in Bujumbura, Burundi, under the mentorship of Prof. Dr Jeanine Ndihokubwayo, she pursued her research titled “Waste to Wealth: Eco-Innovative Use of Sugarcane Bagasse Biofertilizer and Biopesticide to Improve Soil Health and Ensure Food Security.” Her research focuses on converting sugarcane bagasse, a widely available agricultural by-product, into organic biofertilizer enriched with beneficial microbes and macroinvertebrates, reinforcing her commitment to practical, locally driven sustainability solutions.
Pauline’s fellowship began in June 2025 with orientation and training at Fertilisants Organo-Minéraux Industries (FOMI), a leading regional biofertilizer company based in Burundi. There she learned about the company’s mission and was introduced to sourcing strategies for organic raw materials, including cow manure and municipal organic waste. She also took part in the full composting process, from sorting and moisture control to fermentation and curing.
“The first month was about grounding myself in both theory and practice,” she says. “It was an opportunity for me to see how organic resources, often discarded as waste, could be transformed into valuable solutions for farmers. This exposure provided me with a clear picture of how FOMI integrates organic and organo-mineral fertilizers to serve farmers in Burundi and across East Africa.”
Her technical exposure extended beyond FOMI to include two other companies that enriched her understanding of integrated organic input systems. She visited Ecole Normale Supérieure du Burundi (ENS), where she observed ongoing research on vermicomposting using sugarcane waste, cow dung, banana residues, and other agro-industrial by-products. Her visit to Oragri Labo Farm provided insights into sustainable composting using rice husks, grass, cow manure, and molasses, reinforcing the role of low-cost, farmer-friendly techniques in soil health restoration. She notes that these engagements brought out the importance of collaboration between research institutions and industry, particularly in improving compost quality and standardising formulations, and also reinforced her view that “waste is a resource when handled with knowledge and intention.”
The month of July was equally dynamic. Pauline expanded her understanding of fertilizer production systems through visits to FOMI’s liquid and organo-mineral fertilizer plants, gaining a full view of the formulation-to-packaging chain. She recounts how observing integrated nutrient blending “highlighted the importance of quality control protocols in maintaining product consistency and farmer trust.” Field visits to Ndava Coffee Washing Station and the University of Ngozi further grounded her in practical agro-waste management and compost utilisation. At Ndava, she witnessed how coffee pulp and household organic waste are converted into compost used in nursery management. Here, she learned how climatic conditions, especially cold temperatures, slow the vermicomposting process, underscoring the need for location-specific composting solutions.
Another highlight for her that month was participating in a presentation by another beneficiary of cohort IV BioInnote Africa fellow, Dr Cecilia China. The session explored innovative waste transformation models, prompting Pauline to reflect on the broader impact of biotechnology. “Waste is not merely a disposal problem,” she says, “but a valuable resource when approached through the lens of innovation and sustainability.”
In August, Pauline advanced into laboratory-based learning, focusing on ISO-aligned testing protocols for biofertilizer quality control. Under FOMI’s laboratory team, she gained proficiency in sample preparation, nutrient analysis, and evaluating compost maturity. She analysed a compost sample from Ndava Coffee Washing Station, generating key data on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter, carbon, and moisture content. These findings, she explains, “will guide future recommendations on nutrient management for smallholder farmers.”
Her final month also included a technical visit to SOSUMO Sugar Factory, where she examined large-scale waste management systems using windrow composting for bagasse and fibrous residues. “Observing this model helped me appreciate how industrial by-products can be converted into high-quality organic fertilizer, even at scale,” says Pauline.
The fellowship culminated in a comprehensive presentation to staff at FOMI and Hope Africa University, where she outlined her achievements, insights, and future plans. The fellowship experience has equipped her with the skills and confidence to contribute to sustainable agricultural innovations in Africa. “This experience has shown me that with the right technologies and community involvement, agricultural waste can become a powerful tool for soil health, environmental protection, and improved farmer livelihoods,” she says.
