Canadian researchers identify previously unknown bacteria to produce biogas from food waste

In Canada, when 115,000 tons of food waste hit Surrey’s processing facility each year, an invisible army goes to work—billions of microbes convert everything from banana peels to leftover pizza into renewable natural gas (RNG). Now, University of British Columbia researchers have identified a previously unknown bacterium in the Natronincolaceae family that plays a crucial role in this process.

Here’s how it works. Inside an anaerobic digester, bacteria first break food scraps into simple compounds like fatty acids, amino acids, and sugars. Other microbes turn these into organic acids, such as acetic acid—essentially vinegar. Methane-producing organisms then feed on the acetic acid to make methane, which is refined into RNG. The newly discovered microbe is one of these critical methane producers.