Que: To start with, please take us through an overview of the company – Sistema.bio?

Ans: Sistema.bio is a social enterprise that works towards addressing the challenges of poverty, food security, and climate change through innovative biodigester technology, training, and financing. We manufacture and distribute affordable, high-quality biodigesters that empower farmers to convert waste into renewable energy and organic fertiliser. Working together with farmers worldwide, Sistema.bio delivers high quality carbon mitigation, sequestration and climate change adaptation programs. Sistema.bio works with small-holder farmers all over the world to reduce carbon footprint, make them more productive and more efficient and create a healthier sustainable environment on farms.

Founded in 2010 in Central Mexico, Sistema.bio has expanded its operations over 13 years and currently operates in 31 countries, serving over 70,000 farms. With the potential to reach 100 million farmers on more than 15 percent of the world's farmland, Sistema.bio aims to bring clean energy and sustainable agricultural practices to communities worldwide. By 2030, our goal is to reduce 1 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.

Operating from operational hubs and field offices in Latin America, East Africa, and Asia, Sistema.bio's team engages directly with farmers and local farmer networks. We promote sustainable farming practices in local languages, in collaboration with local leaders and under local conditions. Sistema.bio offers direct sales in Mexico, Colombia, Kenya, India, and other countries through partnerships. We actively seek to support organizations and enterprises interested in implementing biogas programs with farmers in their communities.

Que: MNRE has approved Sistema.bio's innovative biogas digesters. Tell us more about the technology. How are you planning to help farmers in increasing their agricultural productivity and net income, along with enhancing the sustainability of their farms?

Ans: Our technology has been recognised and approved by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India under the National Bio Energy Programme, which was launched in 2022 to promote the adoption of biogas as a clean cooking fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides organic fertilizer for agriculture.

Our technology offers prefabricated modular biogas plants complete with appliances. Our advanced biogas plant design will give numerous benefits for rural livelihood and agricultural development in the future decades.

Sistema.bio's biogas plants are extremely easy to operate and require little maintenance. Additionally, we also provide training to farmers on how to use their biogas plants efficiently. Farmers may utilize biogas to not only cook and heat their homes, but can also use the biofertilizer as an alternative to synthetic chemical fertilizers.

It is a big step forward not just for Sistema.bio, but also for the Indian biogas industry, as it will pave the way for the country's acceptance and use of advanced biogas technologies. Biogas technology, in addition to providing clean cooking, plays an important role in reducing fossil fuel usage and enhancing users’ quality of life. Sistema.bio is looking forward to assisting more farmers in benefiting from our technology, which can help the climate.

Que: What are the major operations and procurements required in India to level up the company’s growth in sales, technical innovations, and manufacturing?

Ans: Sistema.bio focuses on numerous important activities and procurements in order to accelerate our growth in sales, technical advancements, and manufacturing in India. We prioritise building our Indian sales and distribution network. This entails forming alliances with local distributors, dealers, and agricultural organisations in order to efficiently reach farmers in various regions. We do extensive market research and gain customer insights to better understand the needs and preferences of Indian farmers. This allows us to improve our product offerings, adjust our solutions to specific needs, and create focused marketing tactics.

We make major investments in R&D to ensure constant technical innovation and product enhancement. Our primary goal is to improve the efficiency, durability, and usability of our biodigester technology. We hope to develop cutting-edge solutions that solve the unique issues encountered by Indian farmers while also aligning with the country's sustainable development goals by cooperating with research institutions, universities, and other business partners.

We prioritise optimising our manufacturing processes and enhancing our supply network as our sales volume grows. This entails investing in cutting-edge manufacturing facilities and equipment in order to increase production capacity. Furthermore, we simplify our supply chain to ensure that our biogas plants are delivered on time, minimising potential delays and increasing customer satisfaction.

We constantly seek local sourcing and partnerships to assist our operations and production in India. Collaboration with local suppliers and vendors for raw materials, components, and manufacturing services is part of this. By interacting with local businesses, we contribute to the local economy, encourage job development, and foster strong community relationships.
We actively partner with government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and other institutions on projects and initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture and rural development. We may further grow our reach and influence in India by forming strategic alliances and leveraging resources, skills, and networks.

Que: Recently, your company has completed its 5-year anniversary, please let us know how you view the next five years ahead.

Ans: Over the past five years, we have made a positive impact on the lives of 50,000+ farmers in India. Our ambition for the future is to reach 1 million farmers by 2030. The launch of our new factory enables us to scale up our production capacity and extend our reach to a wider network of farmers. This expansion aligns with the Government of India's commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. Sustainability and innovation remain integral to our operations as we strive to expand our market presence and accelerate the adoption of biogas technology. Furthermore, we are dedicated to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by 1 percent by 2030.

Que: The company has registered its first carbon project in Gold Standard to make biodigesters more accessible for farmers in Kenya - kindly elaborate on this.

Ans: In India, we achieved a significant milestone by registering our first carbon project in the gold standard in 2022. Similarly, in Kenya, we recently registered our first carbon project in 2019. These initiatives are instrumental in enhancing the affordability of biodigesters for farmers while maintaining their quality standards. Moreover, they contribute to the achievement of our Sustainable Development Goals, fostering a more sustainable future.

Que: Could you shed some light on the biogas energy sector of India? What has been your experience in the field of biogas plants?

Ans: The biogas energy sector in India has shown remarkable potential and has gained significant momentum in recent years. As advocates of sustainable energy, Sistema.bio recognizes the numerous advantages of biogas, including reduced reliance on fossil fuels, lowered greenhouse gas emissions, and improved waste management. With our extensive expertise in biogas plant technology, we have actively contributed to the sector's growth and witnessed its transformative impact.

The application of biogas technology on farms holds immense potential for enhancing sustainability and productivity. Through the anaerobic digestion process of organic waste such as animal manure, agricultural byproducts, and food waste, biogas is produced as a renewable energy source. Simultaneously, nutrient-rich fertilizers are generated, which can be utilized to increase crop yields and enhance soil health.

By adopting biogas technology, farmers can power their farms with sustainable energy, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and minimising greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the utilisation of anaerobic digestion for fertilizer production reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides while improving soil quality and agricultural yields.

The implementation of modern biogas technology holds promise for boosting agricultural production and farm sustainability. It provides renewable energy, enhances soil health and crop yields, and mitigates the environmental impact of agriculture, thereby driving positive changes in the sector.

Que: Sustainability is viewed as a key performance parameter for all industries; how do you plan to align your company’s vision to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and evolve effortlessly in a feasible manner?

Ans: The primary objective of Sistema.bio is to enhance farmer livelihoods while fostering environmental sustainability. Since we are aware that farmers often possess limited resources, we are continually looking for novel methods to make our technology affordable for them.

New avenues for climate financing have recently opened up as a result of the global climate change movement. Businesses like ours can lower carbon emissions on a massive scale by collaborating with foreign and Indian groups, making biodigesters more affordable to farmers who would not otherwise be able to afford them.

The widespread use of biogas by farmers significantly reduces carbon emissions in the atmosphere, aiding in the accomplishment of the 13th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of climate action. Additionally, it aids in the advancement of other SDGs like 1- No Poverty, 2- Zero Hunger, 3- Good Health & Well-Being, 5- Gender Equality, 7- Affordable & Clean Energy, 8- Decent Work & Economic Growth, 14- Life Below Water, 15-Life on Land.