We focus on enhancing soil health and crop productivity through organic fertilizers and regenerative agricultural practices. Our research demonstrates how organic fertilisers improve soil chemical, physical, and biological properties, increase yields, reduce erosion, and build long-term soil fertility. We also provide practical guidance on composting methods, organic fertilisers storage, and nutrient management to maximize the benefits of organic amendments in both small- and large-scale farming systems.
Some of our key publications on bioslurry, organic fertilizers, and regenerative agriculture practices are listed below.
| Title | Description | Download | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioslurry Enriched Compost (BEC) production and application | This presentation provides an overview of compost and composting processes, including different composting methods and the key phases involved. It explains how bioslurry (digestate) can be used to enrich compost and produce Bioslurry Enriched Compost (BEC), along with practical application methods. The presentation covers both small and large-scale composting systems. | 22 Downloads | 2024 |
| OFVI Report on support BEC standardisation, labelling, rules & regulations | This report summarizes the existing standards and policies related to organic fertilisers in Kenya, Uganda, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. It includes an overview assessing the completeness of these standards and policies against a set of key parameters, including: packaging, definitions of “organic (fertiliser)”, “fertiliser”,“compost”, “manure”, quality control, contaminants and institutional support. It also outlines country-specific action plans to address identified gaps and strengthen the regulatory and policy framework in each of the five countries. | Download 36 Downloads | 2025 |
| Bioslurry for improved soils and yields in West Africa | This poster presents the benefits of biodigesters beyond biogas, focusing on bioslurry and Bioslurry Enriched Compost (BEC). These organic fertilizers improve soil health, increase crop yields, and reduce erosion in West African cropping systems. Modelling shows that 15 years of bioslurry application could reduce soil erosion by 50% in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in tomato systems. Long-term use builds soil organic matter, gradually releasing nutrients and lowering the need for repeated applications. It was presented at the RAMIRAN Conference in 2025. | 38 Downloads | 2025 |
| The biodigester’s business case | This poster explains the benefits of bioslurry and Bioslurry Enriched Compost (BEC) for farmers in Uganda and Kenya (in English), and the Sahel region (in French). These organic fertilizers enhance crop yields, reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, and offer a fast return on investment within 1 to 3 years. | 35 Downloads | 2025 |
| Bioslurry for improved soils and yields in East Africa | This poster presents the agricultural benefits of biodigesters beyond biogas. Bioslurry and Bioslurry Enriched Compost (BEC) improve soil health, boost crop yields, and reduce erosion. Based on field surveys, desk reviews, and modelling studies, the findings show that bioslurry and BEC improve soil chemical, physical, and biological properties. Long-term application increases soil organic matter, reduces erosion (up to 52% in Kenya and 34% in Uganda in maize systems), and gradually lowers the required application rate due to ongoing nutrient mineralisation. It was presented at the RAMIRAN Conference in 2025. | 40 Downloads | 2025 |
| Best practices for bio-slurry storage to minimize losses | The poster presents the best practices to avoid nutrient loss from bioslurry during storage. These practices include covering the storage, creating a barrier layer in the ground to prevent leaching, and providing ample storage to avoid overflow. Available in English and French. | 37 Downloads | 2024 |
| Best practices for bio-slurry storage to minimize losses (in French) | The poster presents the best practices to avoid nutrient loss from bioslurry during storage. These practices include covering the storage, creating a barrier layer in the ground to prevent leaching, and providing ample storage to avoid overflow. Available in English and French. | 40 Downloads | 2024 |
| Reducing nitrogen losses during bioslurry application | This poster presents the different forms of bio-slurry (liquid, dried, and composted), the major pathways of nitrogen loss during application such as volatilization, denitrification, and leaching with practical strategies to reduce nutrient losses. It emphasizes proper timing, mulching, and suitable application conditions to improve nutrient efficiency. | 53 Downloads | 2024 |
| Process of making Bioslurry Enriched Compost | This poster presents the process of producing Bio-Slurry Enriched Compost (BEC), including proper layering techniques, moisture and temperature management, common challenges, and indicators of compost maturity. Available in English and French. | 41 Downloads | 2024 |
| Process of making Bioslurry Enriched Compost (in French) | This poster presents the process of producing Bio-Slurry Enriched Compost (BEC), including proper layering techniques, moisture and temperature management, common challenges, and indicators of compost maturity. Available in English and French. | 38 Downloads | 2024 |
| OFVI poster: Burkina Faso soils benefiting most from bio-slurry and BEC | This poster presents a spatial analysis identifying soils in Burkina Faso that can benefit most from bioslurry and Bioslurry Enriched Compost (BEC). The results show that 37% of the country’s land has excellent potential for improvement, particularly in areas with low organic matter and/or high soil acidity. Available in French only. | 35 Downloads | 2024 |
| OFVI Guidelines for bio-slurry and BEC production | This report provides guidelines for the production and use of bioslurry and Bioslurry Enriched Compost (BEC). These guidelines are intended for use in Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions conducted by biodigester companies, public agricultural extension services, agro-input enterprises, and Vocational Training Centers (VTCs). They cover aspects such as product quality, shared ownership and responsibilities, and gender inclusivity. | 413 Downloads | 2024 |
| Impacts of different organic fertilisers | This poster lists direct (short term) and indirect (long term effects) of chemical and various types of organic fertilizers including farmyard manure (FYM), compost, bioslurry (digestate), and compost made with bioslurry (Bioslurry Enriched Compost or BEC). Short-term effects include immediate nutrient release. Long term effects relate to changes in soil pH and impact on soil physical structure, soil water holding capacity and nutrient buffering capacity, slow release of nutrients and soil life (macrofauna, fungi and bacteria) in a clear and transparent way. It draws from more detailed reports published in the Organic Fertilizer Valorization Implementer (OFVI) project running between 2021 and 2025. | 259 Downloads | 2024 |
| OFVI poster: Kenyan soils benefiting most from bio-slurry and BEC | The poster shows that bio-slurry and Bio-slurry Enriched Compost (BEC) enhance soil fertility and crop productivity in Kenya, particularly in areas with low organic matter or high acidity. These solutions support sustainable agriculture across 30% of the country’s land. | 470 Downloads | 2024 |
| OFVI report INC5: literature review on best practices for bio-slurry and BEC | Literature review assessing the potential nutrient and fertilizer value of bio-slurry and BEC under prevailing conditions in the project’s target countries: Kenya, Uganda, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Summaries and detailed overview of most prominent publications on bio-slurry and bio-slurry-enriched compost (BEC) application, composition, short-and-long-term effects on soils and crop growth. | 488 Downloads | 2023 |
| OFVI ABC presentation Sahel meeting 2024 (FR) | Slides from the OFVI consortium presentation held at the ABC Sahel meeting in Cotonou, Benin. The members of the OFVI consortium (Biomass Research, SNV, and DIBcoop), presented key achievements, plans for the upcoming years, and inputs from ABC partners and implementers. | 537 Downloads | 2024 |
| Using Smallholder Farm and Household Data for Fertiliser Advisory Services | This report presents an overview of existing literature on farm size and composition, family conditions and other endowments and their relation to crop production. Specific attention is given to nutrient use, soil management and other elements of crop production in the study area. | 1436 Downloads | 2016 |
| RESFARM Report database structure Biomass Research | Biomass Research has been asked to develop a database structure plus data entry system under Work Package 3 (Data collection and analysis) which can be used by other project partners. The main aim of the database is to collect farm data in the three countries covered by the project, facilitating a uniform and efficient analysis. A mobile data entry module was developed to allow quick and efficient entry of answers that were given by the farmers in the specific countries and regions. | 5006 Downloads | 2016 |
| The Agrics approach | This report describes the way Agrics supports their advice services by using available information on soils, crops, and weather. The main focus is on identifying existing knowledge and data sources and exploring potential ways to integrate them in the information flow and knowledge base needed for a successful development of Geodatics. | 2954 Downloads | 2015 |