Featured in this episode
Michael Fysh
Jason Gifford
SAPPO farmer Michael Fysh (Riverside Piggeries) is turning his farm’s waste into an environmentally friendly, alternative energy source.
“Farmers live where they work. Their farms are their homes. They look after the environment like their homes because there’s no space for half measures and a non-caring attitude,” says Michael Fysh, managing director of Riverside Piggeries.
He uses his farm’s manure to produce methane-rich biogas that powers two turbines to generate 70% of his energy needs. Though a costly exercise, Michael has produced over a million kilowatt hours of energy, which eases the pressure on the national grid at a time when South Africa is struggling with its energy supply. The environmental benefits include a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and water preservation, as the waste is not disposed of in landfills or waterways. Welcome to the future of farming and power generation.
Watch our short film about how farmers who produce pork are turning waste into sustainable energy while simultaneously solving an environmental problem.
SAPPO is contributing to making agriculture more environmentally friendly, sustainable and future-focused by working alongside farmers who produce pork across southern Africa.
Behind the scenes
Credits
| Director | JENNY-LEE SCHOEMAN |
| Executive producer | KIRBY KRUGER |
| Director of photography | KOBUS MARX |
| Camera operator | MEEKAAEEL ADAM |
| Camera assistant | AQEELAH PERSENSE |
| Drone operator | AMBIT AERIAL |
| Sound recordist | LIEZL DURAND |
| Offline editor | JENNY-LEE SCHOEMAN |
| Online editor | MATTHEW JAMES |
| Final mix | DEON KNIPE, LIEZL DURAND |
Riverside Piggeries
