Biogas for the Future: Review of the AMBER Project Closing Conference

On November 25 and 26, 2025, the closing event of the AMBER Project took place in Morocco. The first day was dedicated to the AMBER final conference under the motto From Waste to Energy – Bridging Academia, Policy & Industry, bringing together experts from academia, policy, and industry to discuss the latest innovations and practical solutions in biogas production and utilization. On the second day, excursions and site visits were on the agenda: participants visited the second partner university and gained insights into the biogas plant at the nearby Danone facility.

The event began in the morning with a warm welcome for all project participants and guests. Prof. El Asli from AUI (Al Akhawayn University) provided an overview of the project results and the successful completion of the AMBER Project, as well as the scientific output of all partners. This was followed by presentations from Marc Reinhard (German Biogas Association), who shared experiences from Germany in the field of biogas and circular economy, and Dr. Fadwa Karouach (African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute), who reported on developments in rural and urban biogas sectors.

After the coffee break and poster session, during which participants could address questions directly to the PhD students, the doctoral research topics were presented. These focused particularly on the suitability of agricultural residues for small-scale biogas plants and on the reuse of digestate.

Further technical presentations by representatives of international and local industry partners concluded the afternoon sessions. Among them were EDF Fenice, Generizon, and EcoWater SARL. Following the theme of connecting research, education, and industry, the winner teams of the AMBER Entrepreneurial Competition were announced. The students had previously developed ideas for the use of artificial intelligence in biogas applications and displayed their posters during the conference.

The conference concluded with an international panel on the future of biogas in Africa and Europe, where participants from academia, policy, and industry discussed the challenges, opportunities, and perspectives for the biogas sector in Morocco.

On the second day of the closing event, the delegation from Germany visited the second AMBER partner university, the École Nationale d'Agriculture de Meknès (ENA). The visit highlighted the biogas research facilities, teaching laboratories in agriculture, and the experimental farm used for research purposes. In addition, participants were able to tour the biogas plant at the adjacent Danone facility, which supports both teaching at ENA and the PhD students of the project.

The AMBER Project closing event demonstrated how academic research, industrial practice, and political frameworks can work together to sustainably promote biogas production in Morocco. The project results are expected to further support the development of a climate-friendly, decentralized energy supply in Morocco. More information about the project and contact details for the project team can be found on the project website: www.amber-biogas.com

We would like to thank all participants for their contributions and constructive discussions, as well as Al Akhawayn University and the École Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès for organizing the event, and everyone who traveled to attend the conference.