Caribbean Delegation Engages German Environmental Technology Sector at IFAT 2026
Caribbean Delegation Engages German Environmental Technology Sector at IFAT 2026
Representatives from Caribbean waste management authorities, regional organisations, associations, academia and the private sector participated in a technical study tour to IFAT Munich 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies, as part of the Material and Energetic Utilization of Organic Waste and Sargassum Project (BioWaste Caribbean Project).
The BioWaste Caribbean Project, with a budget of EUR 10 million, is funded by Germany, through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat. It supports the productive use of organic waste and sargassum across the Caribbean.
The delegation comprised of representatives from the national solid waste management authorities in Grenada, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Jamaica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, alongside regional organisations such as the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI). Private sector representatives from Puntacana Foundation and SarGas Ltd also participated.
Hosted from 4–8 May 2026 in Munich and surrounding cities, the study tour combined technical presentations, site visits, and exchanges with German companies and organisations specialising in biogas, composting, recycling, and circular economy solutions. With more than 3,200 exhibitors from over 60 countries, IFAT 2026 provided Caribbean stakeholders with direct access to leading German and European environmental technology companies, as well as practical insights and valuable knowledge into economically viable solutions that can inform the development of locally adapted approaches for managing the growing volumes of waste generated within the Caribbean’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS) context.
The German Biomass Research Center (Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum) accompanied the study tour and provided technical expertise throughout the visit.
“This study tour was an eye-opening on the value of biogas, composting and of the circular economy practices. It increased my knowledge of these topics, and I would like to spread it further into the Caribbean”
— Lauryane Lucky, Director of the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA)
The delegation visited several biogas, composting, and recycling facilities, including the Eggertshof Biogas and Composting Plant, the Schernthaner Compost Plant, AVA Municipal Waste Services Augsburg, the VIVO Recycling Centre, and the Wurzer Bioenergy Center. Participants also engaged in technical exchanges with the German Biogas Association (Fachverband Biogas e.V.) and the German Compost Quality Association (Bundesgütegemeinschaft Kompost e.V.).
“I came to this study tour thinking I already knew a lot about composting and biogas, I realized I know nothing. This experience promoted a big learning curve on aspects that I can improve in my composting facility in the island”
— Bradley Ollivierre, Landfill Manager of the Solid Waste Management Unit from the Central Water and Sewage Authority of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
“The OECS Commission is pleased to collaborate with GIZ at IFAT Munich, leveraging this global platform to engage with suppliers of advanced waste management and processing technologies. This engagement supports the OECS Commission’s efforts to identify practical solutions that convert organic waste into valuable resources and advance circular economy approaches across Member States”
— Susanna De Beauville-Scott, Programme Manager at OECS Commission
Discussions throughout the week focused on practical approaches to organic waste management, including anaerobic digestion, composting, recycling technologies, and landfill diversion. The study tour also created opportunities for direct dialogue between Caribbean stakeholders and German environmental technology companies, including turnkey solution providers, component manufacturers, and project developers.
“The delegation’s participation at IFAT came at an ideal moment at the start of the project. It provided valuable insights into composting and biogas technologies, opportunities to learn directly from plant operators, and productive exchanges between German and European companies and Caribbean stakeholders on organic waste management needs and solutions.”
— Clemens Findeisen, GIZ Team Leader for the BioWaste Caribbean Project
Project Framework Details
Click below to expand and view the official project details provided in the release:
The Material and Energetic Utilization of Organic Waste and Sargassum Project (BioWaste Caribbean) is a EUR 10 million initiative funded by Germany, through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with the CARICOM Secretariat.
From 2025 to 2029, the project supports Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as additional CARICOM Member States through regional exchange, in advancing sustainable organic waste management, circular economy approaches, and innovative uses of sargassum.
In addition, the project strengthens regional collaboration, encourages private sector engagement, and supports demonstration projects across the Caribbean.
The BioWaste Caribbean Project is implemented in close collaboration with GIZ’s Circular Economy Caribbean (CEC) Project.
