The fishing and agricultural sectors in Peru play a significant role in the country’s economy and food security. However, these sectors still face major environmental challenges in managing organic waste from fishing and the intensive use of chemical fertilizers. In response to this challenge, organic soil enhancers have been developed from by-products and waste of fishing activity to promote organic farming. This introduces a circular economy between fishing and agriculture.
Priscilla Verastegui is a Specialist in Fishery Innovation, and Elizabeth Gutiérrez is a Specialist in Artisanal Fisheries.
The organic waste from fishing operations includes fish heads, viscera, bones, and scales, which can represent more than 50% of the total fish weight in some species. In Peru, the consumption of seafood per person has increased by 33% over the last ten years, reaching 17.5 kg of fish per person in 2022, leading to an increase in fish waste.
This organic waste still contains essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and can be effectively managed to produce liquid organic fertilizers. This process supports organic farming and offers a practical solution for waste management.
Liquid fertilizers made from fish waste have been shown to improve soil quality, possess antifungal and antibacterial properties, and increase crop yields. These fertilizers have the potential to reduce farmers' reliance on chemical fertilizers and could contribute to creating a circular economy in Peru that integrates fishing and agriculture, proving to be a strategic ally for sustainable farming.
Peru has 11.6 million hectares of agricultural land, and agriculture is very important for the region's economy. However, its effectiveness and productivity depend on using chemical fertilizers such as urea, diammonium phosphate, and monoammonium phosphate. 44% of agricultural producers choose to use these synthetic products.
Additionally, we import approximately 1.2 million tons of fertilizers per year to meet domestic demand. The imports mainly come from Russia and the United States, which supply Peru with more than 40% of its urea and ammonium nitrate. However, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has significantly disrupted the availability and prices of these agricultural products, posing a serious challenge to our agricultural sector.
Although chemical soil enhancers contain important elements to improve crop yields, studies have shown that their continuous use can decrease soil quality because they change the pH, acidify the soil, and reduce microbial activity, ultimately decreasing soil fertility.
In this scenario, the search for sustainable alternatives becomes more urgent, and the potential benefits of organic fertilizers like island guano or fish waste become increasingly important. These alternatives provide a solution to the negative impact of chemical fertilizers and offer a promising path toward sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.
A harmonious future between fishing and agriculture
Several projects in Peru have discovered a sustainable solution to environmental challenges and the overreliance on chemical fertilizers by utilizing fish waste. These previously discarded by-products are now being used to promote more eco-friendly and sustainable farming practices.
Two innovative projects, BioferPez and Challwamino, have successfully created organic fertilizers from the waste produced by fish processing in the fishing villages of Santa Rosa (Lambayeque) and El Ñuro (Piura), contributing to the advancement of sustainable agriculture in these coastal regions.
On a global scale, countries such as Iceland and Norway utilize fish waste to produce items like biogas and biodiesel. Similarly, fish waste is being employed to enhance rice and wild fruit crops in Vietnam and Chile. The development of organic fertilizers from fish waste represents a crucial step towards achieving a balanced relationship between fishing and agriculture in a world where innovation is essential for addressing the challenges of climate change and food security.
CULTIMAR organic fertilizer from the sea
ARTISONAL is dedicated to supporting innovation and research to find solutions for managing organic waste produced by artisanal fishing. Therefore, we are endorsing the CULTIMAR project, which aims to provide an alternative to liquid fertilizers by utilizing hydrobiological waste collected from artisanal fishing docks (DPA).
The project involves collaboration with experts from the National Agrarian University La Molina (UNALM) to develop optimal formulations through lactic acid fermentation. This anaerobic process transforms waste into nutritious products for agricultural. Since different crops require specific nutrients, CULTIMAR is researching how to adapt the biofertilizer to each type of crop based on its composition and characteristics.
Brown Gold, Cocoa
In Peru, around 100,000 families of small farmers grow cocoa in 16 regions, with exports valued at about $333 million. Due to recent climate issues and crop diseases in West Africa, the price of cocoa reached $11,000 per metric ton in April 2024, surpassing the value of copper. This has renewed interest among Peruvian farmers, but they still need help with low crop productivity due to soil fertility loss, high input (fertilizer) costs, and pest and disease incidence.
Cooperation is essential for sustainable agriculture and food security, involving both public and private entities, as well as agricultural and fishing communities. Additionally, consumers play a crucial role in encouraging sustainable farming practices.
At Artisonal, we are proud to contribute to CULTIMAR and be its ally in this important initiative. Together, we can realize innovative projects that promote a circular economy in artisanal fishing, leading to a more sustainable future for our environment and our fishing communities.
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