Peru: Putting waste to good use
Farming in the middle of a desert comes with many challenges, as Vasco Masias knows well. At his farm near Chincha Alta in Peru, the owner of Grupo Aliment, a group of agricultural companies, has enlisted the help of his many chickens to transform the landscape. Masias no longer uses them only for the eggs they produce, he also makes use of their excrement. He mixes it with the chicken feed waste and applies it to the dry soil. The process has helped turn his arid farm into fertile arable land.
Palmiro Ocampo, a cook in the capital Lima, is also finding creative ways to be more environmentally friendly. He gets his vegetables from organic farms and uses all parts of the plants including what others would throw away. Through his initiative CCORI:Cocina Optima he hopes to reduce food waste in other kitchens and restaurants in Peru.