CQUniversity has gained AusAID funding for a new development project, helping Nepal with innovative biowaste management for sustainable vegetable production and improved livelihoods.

The project aims to upskill locals and introduce technology for the sustainable use of biowastes in biofertiliser manufacture and horticulture.

CQUniversity's Centre for Plant and Water Science will collaborate with Tribhuvan University's Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science in Nepal.

Researchers will take an inventory of Nepal's major vegetable, fruit and poultry waste to streamline future strategies for on-site waste management. The project will enable low-cost vermicomposting (worm farm) techniques to be demonstrated, evaluated and shown to be suitable for Nepal.

Pellet-based biofertilisers will be designed, tested and developed at the pilot scale, and business plans will be developed for long-term sustainability of biofertilisers.

Waste producers, researchers, business people and  manufacturers will be 'networked' so that current issues and future challenges of biowaste and biofertilisers can be addressed, and a specialised service provided.