Rice straw to Biogas (R2B) Project

Stage: Round 4

Rice, the world’s primary food crop, generates a substantial waste product in the form of stems and leaves (straw), with around 300 million tonnes burned annually in Asia, harming both the environment and human health. This straw, unsuitable for livestock and rice fields due to methane emissions, holds potential as a clean-burning cooking fuel (biogas) through anaerobic digestion. However, economic and processing challenges hinder its utilization. This collaborative project, uniting innovative businesses and leading academics, initiates a field trial in the Philippines, complemented by extensive UK-based lab work. The goal is to create a viable solution benefiting remote rice farming communities, part of the 3 billion globally lacking clean cooking fuel while surrounded by an untapped bioenergy resource.