 anaerobic digestion, AD, is a widely used technology for producing biogas and biofertilizers from a variety of waste materials. It involves the use of mixed cultures in a bioreactor to break down the material into biogas and biofertilizer. This process is complex due to the presence of multiple types of bacteria which can lead to the formation of volatile fatty acids, VFAs, and hydrogen gas. These compounds are valuable resources that can be recovered and used in other applications. This paper reviews the potential of AD to produce VFAs and hydrogen gas, while also discussing how to optimize the process by controlling factors like pH, temperature, organic loading rate, and chemical methane inhibitors. Additionally, it explores methods for recovering VFAs from the fermentation medium to reduce product inhibition and maximize the amount of VFAs available for further processing. This article was authored by Steven Waynaina, Lukata Wisa, Mukesh Kumar Wasthi, and others.