Biochar – A Strong Climate Change Tool

November 10, 2021 – Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia: Soil degradation of agricultural land is on the rise due to loss of soil fertility with intensive cultivation. Thus, reducing soil productivity and food needed to feed the growing human population. Biochar can improve soil fertility and at the same time sequester C to mitigate climate change. This 1st Biochar Malaysia Association International Conference 2021 (BMAIC 2021), organised by the Biochar Malaysia Association (BMA) wishes to recognize the significant values of biochar to our agriculture and environment. In line with United Nation Sustainable Development (SD) Goal No. 2 which supports “Zero Hunger”, biochar promotes the agricultural sector by remediation of infertile soil, boosting germination, boosting crops’ growth up to 5 times, and hence enhancing food security. In addition, as in-line with SD Goal No.13 which supports “Climate Action”, biochar is a carbon sequester and has a function in combating GHG emissions.

In accordance with the United Nation Climate Change Conference (COP26) in uniting the world to tackle climate change, BMAIC 2021 strived to support the goal of maintaining 1.5 degrees temperature within reach by 2030 and securing the global net-zero by 2050 with C sequestration including biochar C in soil and C storage. Loss of soil carbon induced by agriculture is reported to be the second-highest anthropogenic source of global carbon emissions after the energy sector, with a 20% contribution to the total GHG emissions. It is estimated that around 12% of the total anthropogenic carbon emissions (0.21 Pg C) by a change in land use could be offset annually in the soil if slash-and-burn is substituted by slash-and-char practice. Thus, the agricultural benefits of biochar application to soils hold promise for its future use.

This virtual event was officiated by Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, YB Dato’ Mansor bin Haji Othman on 10 November. In line with the government’s initiative on climate change, it is important to discover how countries especially Malaysia can spearhead the transition via a sustainable biochar approach to low carbon and climate-resilient economy. This conference will be one of the many platforms to share and discuss recent innovations, new techniques, and potential applications of biochar to drive transformation, especially in relation to the address climate change.

BMAIC 2021 brought together the industry’s technology leaders and academia experts from 8 participating countries across the globe in sharing their case studies that can improve understanding of the solutions available and at reach for the framework of sustainable agriculture and environmental management. BMAIC 2021 has connected the participants on the theoretical and practical knowledge about biochar issues and sustainable agricultural approaches, exposed the participants to new technological innovations on biochar production, and developed innovative models for mitigating environmental problems. The participants of BMAIC 2021 came from various industries including policymakers, industry’s technology leaders, academia experts, agronomists, farmers’ community, environmentalists, and other professionals.

This event is sponsored by Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and Tex Cycle Sdn Bhd (Tex Cycle). MPOB is the government agency entrusted to serve the country’s oil palm industry. Its main role is to promote and develop national objectives, policies, and priorities for the wellbeing of the Malaysian oil palm industry. It was established on 1 May 2000, taking over the functions of the Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia (PORIM) and the Palm Oil Registration and Licensing Authority (PORLA) which have been involved in the oil palm industry for more than 20 years. With the mission to enhance the well-being of the Malaysian oil palm industry through excellent research & development and services with the biochar sector, it is hoped that MPOB can contribute to the development of a highly diversified, value-added, globally competitive, and sustainable oil palm industry. Tex Cycle, one of Malaysia’s leading scheduled waste management operators; licensed by the Department of Environment and provides professional services preferred by companies from various industries in accordance with the Environmental Quality Act 1974. Besides that, Tex Cycle Group has also ventured into the renewable energy sector through setting up and/or operating renewable energy power plants, producing power from wastes and recovered wastes, solar, and biomass with the latest drive for biogas to energy. Tex Cycle also is a strong supporter and will be a large-scale producer of biochar via its’ very own Biomass Renewable Electrical Energy Plant. In total, the Group has secured 12MW of renewable energy projects in the pipeline in support of the SDG Framework.

In conclusion, Biochar Malaysia Association (BMA) is a registered organisation under the Registry of Societies Malaysia, established in the year 2014 with the following missions:

  • To encourage the development of biochar in Malaysia, improvement of biochar production and utilisation in agriculture and industrial sector
  • To promote the awareness of biochar as carbon sequester to the interested group(s)
  • To become a platform for the exchange of ideas and information in promoting and developing biochar in Malaysia and its international network with other biochar association(s)

With that in mind, the BMA wishes to play a part as a committed Non-Profit Organisation to lower the carbon footprint in our beloved country by focusing on our great mission of carbon sequestration through the production and application of biochar into the many related sectors in Malaysia especially agriculture.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Sherwin Lee Chan Kit

BMA Honorary Secretary

Tel: 016-909 7283

Email: sherwinlee86@gmail.com

Pn. Atiyyah Ameenah Azni

BMA Honorary Assistant Secretary

Tel: 014-845 1123

Email: atiyyah.leo@gmail.com

Mr. Gary Dass

BMA Vice President II

Tel: 013-466 5114

Email: gary@texcycle.com.my6