Fastest Entry Point for Biochar Industry

When in the West, especially in Europe, biochar is seen primarily for climate mitigation, namely as carbon sequestration / carbon sink and compared with various similar efforts in carbon negative / negative emission technologies with compensation in the form of carbon credits or BCR (biochar carbon removal) credits, it is very different, especially in Asia and Africa. Biochar in both continents is mainly to increase soil fertility or repair damaged / degraded soils so that they can be more productive to produce agricultural food products. The different approaches are mainly motivated by the factors that influence it, namely especially in Europe when the problems of climate change, the environment, sustainability and global warming are more of their concern, then various efforts in line with that become important and relevant so that biochar is one of the solutions. While in Asia and Africa, the factor of meeting food needs is a more important concern.

Currently there are 6 NET (negative emission technologies) or carbon negative actions that can absorb CO2 from the atmosphere as in the diagram above. Basically, adequate scale or capacity is needed so that climate change mitigation efforts can run effectively and efficiently. The convenience, cost and additional benefits of the above technology applications will affect their implementation. Of the six NETs, ​​biochar has the fastest development, this is because biochar can meet the above factors. Scientific and public interest in Biochar began to grow in the early 2010s and has grown rapidly since then. The initial focus of biochar research was on terra preta (black earth) and soil improvement. And now it has expanded into various fields, including in the context of industry and construction.

The vast area of ​​degraded land reaching tens or even hundreds of millions of hectares in Indonesia can be improved by using biochar. Moreover, the potential for biomass waste that can be utilized is also very large, tens of millions of tons or even more and the need for food (even bioenergy) also continues to increase. Gradual and sustainable efforts to improve the land need to be started immediately. Soil improvement, as well as efforts to manage biomass waste, energy production and become a climate solution with NET are effective simultaneous efforts. This is the appeal of biochar so that it should be a leading program for various industries that are concerned with food and energy security, the environment, decarbonization, climate and sustainability. This is also so that forest clearing for food estates can be avoided if biochar is chosen as a solution. 

The question is how can this biochar immediately become a solution and be implemented massively? Increasing awareness of the benefits of biochar is the entry point. Furthermore, soil improvement as a real action is followed by carbon credit or can be done simultaneously to become the fastest entry point for the biochar industry in Indonesia. This is in addition to carbon credits with biochar or biochar carbon removal (BCR) credits that have been applied globally, carbon credits are also one of the main drivers of the growth of the biochar industry globally. Even globally, BCR credits are ranked first or more than 90% in Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) recorded in cdr.fyi.

Urgency of Biochar Production Industrial Capacity

The provision or application of biochar to agricultural land follows the 4Rs rule, namely the right source (appropriate biochar raw material), right place (appropriate application area), right rate (appropriate dosage) and right timing (appropriate time). The physical and chemical properties of biochar differ depending on the raw material and production process. By following the 4R rules, biochar performance can be maximized. The effect of biochar on plants will be clearly visible (significant) when the 4R rules are met. With a dose / rate reaching 20 tons / ha (depending on the influencing condition factors), the need for biochar is also large. This is why biochar products are rarely sold online, namely because of the large volume.

Unlike soil amendments such as compost, the effects of biochar can be felt for quite a long time or for several types of agricultural crops, namely not only in one planting season, but repeatedly. This also makes the provision or application of biochar not as frequent as compost. And in the end, of course, the economic aspect is a determining parameter whether biochar makes agricultural businesses more profitable or not. The price of biochar on the market is an important concern for users or farmers.

The lack of biochar production in Indonesia is currently a barrier to biochar application in large agricultural lands, even when farmers' awareness of biochar is also increasing. This is the driving force for the importance of adequate biochar production, especially industrial capacity. Only with adequate biochar production can biochar application in agricultural lands or degraded lands be carried out optimally. The urgency of industrial capacity biochar production is even greater, especially when the biochar production also gets carbon credit, of course this will be even more interesting.

Biochar and Food & Energy Security

As the population increases, so does the need for food and energy. This is why food and energy production must also be increased. Increasing food production is closely related to the quality and quantity of land. However, although the quantity of land is very large, its quality tends to decline so that plant productivity automatically also decreases. The decline in land quality or land damage occurs on very large areas of land up to millions of hectares. With the area of ​​sub-optimal and degraded lands reaching hundreds of millions of hectares consisting of 122.1 million hectares of dry land; 8 million hectares of post-mining land; 24.3 million hectares of critical land; a total of around 154.4 million ha, it can be said that the potential loss of food products also reaches millions of tons. Meanwhile, damaged land will be further damaged if no repair efforts are made. Efforts to upgrade or improve the quality of this land should be an important priority in efforts to achieve food and energy security.

Biochar application is a solution for improving these lands. Raw materials for biochar production are also very abundant, including dry palm oil EFB of around 30 million tons/year, bagasse of 2 million tons/year, corn cobs of 5 million tons/year, cassava stalks of 3 million tons/year, waste wood of 50 million tons/year, rice husks of 15 million tons/year, cocoa shells and so on. With the application of biochar, agricultural productivity can increase by an average of 20% or even up to 100%. If applied on a macro or national scale, say with a 20% increase in production, for example, rice production will increase to 36 million tons/year from the previous 30 million tons/year, corn will increase to 18 million tons/year from the previous 15 million tons/year, crude palm oil or CPO to 60 million tons/year from the previous 50 million tons/year. This will save land use so that the opening of forest land for food crops and (bio)energy such as food estates may not be necessary or at least slow it down. But why until now has biochar not received attention and been used as a solution?

In addition, biochar production with pyrolysis will also produce a number of by-products that can be used for energy applications or others, as in the diagram above. Many agro-industries require drying in their production processes, so this is an additional advantage of using pyrolysis technology for biochar production. While from the environmental aspect, biochar is also a carbon sequestration so that it is a climate solution and can get carbon credit. Likewise in waste management, because the raw material for biochar is biomass waste from agriculture, plantations and forestry, even from organic waste, the pyrolysis and biochar business is also a solution to this problem.

Bioeconomy in a Tropical Country “Biomass Heaven”

Indonesia is believed to be a tropical country of biomass heaven so this needs to be translated into a more concrete form so that it can be understood, executed so that it is proven and the potential can be utilized optimally. There is so much potential that should be used to support the welfare of its people. The simple diagram below illustrates so many things that can be done in a tropical country "biomass heaven".

The availability of raw materials is a vital and absolute factor so that various biomass processing can be carried out and sustainable. On the other hand, there is a lot of land potentials that can be utilized for this purpose, the amount of which reaches tens of millions of hectares, namely critical land / marginal land, dry land and post-mining land (coal mines, tin mines, nickel mines, copper mines, gold mines and so on). In more detail, it is estimated that for critical / marginal land it reaches 24.3 million hectares (Times Indonesia, 2017) while dry land reaches 122.1 million ha consisting of dry acid land covering 108.8 million ha and dry climate dry land covering 13.3 million ha and post-mining damaged land reaching 8 million hectares. Energy plantations or biomass plantations need to be created in these land areas and can even be used for various food crops. Even now there are plant species that can only be economically viable on these lands.

Both energy and biomass plantations can be planted with various plants that support sustainable bioeconomy in line with decarbonization, including calliandra, gliricidia, bamboo, calophyllum inophyllum, coconut and even oil palm, including food crops such as rice, corn and soybeans. The selection of plant species will be adjusted to the product to be made, land conditions, and technological and business readiness.

Meanwhile, biomass waste that is currently produced annually, especially from the agricultural and forestry sectors, which also amounts to millions of tons, can be optimized so that in addition to reducing or avoiding environmental pollution, it will also provide added economic value, environmental and social benefits. The utilization of biomass, both from agricultural and forestry waste or from energy plantations and biomass plantations, will be a sustainable bioeconomy activity and in line with the global decarbonization trend that is in line with climate solutions.
 

Biochar to Increase the Porosity of Damaged and Marginal Soils

Basically, porous materials will have large surface areas. The more pores, the greater the surface area of the material. Efforts to increase pores or expand the surface can be done in many ways depending on the goal. The type of pores also affects the total surface area and also the use or application of the material. For example, materials that have more micropores will have a larger surface area and have different specific uses than materials that are dominant with medium pores (mesopores) or large pores (macropores). Designing a material so that it is micropore, mesopore or macropore dominant can be done, namely by selecting raw materials and process technology, for example biochar produced from pyrolysis will produce a larger surface area compared to the initial unprocessed biomass.

In land related to use for agriculture or plant cultivation, the aspect of soil porosity or pores is an important aspect. This is mainly related to nutrient and water retention as well as soil aeration. Expanding soil pores will be very useful for improving soil quality so as to support the success of agriculture or plant cultivation. Soil that has more pore space will be able to store large amounts of water and nutrients too. Soil that has a high number of small (micropore) and medium (mesopore) pores will tend to hold water and nutrients more strongly than soil that has many large pores (macropore). And if there is evaporation or use of water by plants or a leaching process occurs in nutrients, then the large pores (macropores) left behind by the water and nutrients will follow the medium (mesopore) and  micropore.

Providing organic material in the form of compost to the soil is generally used to form more micropore spaces. The more micropore spaces that are formed, the more moisture the soil will have. Soil organic matter has more pores than soil mineral particles, which means that the surface area for absorption is also greater. Providing organic material in the form of compost, apart from increasing the number of pores or soil porosity, also reduces the volume weight. This organic material or compost is a source of energy for soil microbial activity, reduces soil volume, improves soil structure, aeration and air binding capacity. Soil with high total pores, such as clay, tends to have a low volume weight, while soil with low total pores, such as sandy soil (coarse texture), tends to have a high volume weight.

Apart from increasing total pores, adding compost also increases soil pH, namely in sandy soil and acidic soil, including entisol, ultisol and andisol and is able to reduce soil exchangeable Al. The increase in pH is due to the process of breaking down the compost. The results of this overhaul will produce basic cations which can increase the pH or release basic cations from the compost into the soil so that the soil is saturated with basic cations. The weathering or decomposition process of the compost will release alkaline cations which cause the soil pH to increase.

Soil organic C will also increase with the addition of compost and total N (nitrogen). The more organic matter added to the soil, the greater the increase in organic C in the soil. Compost from animal waste has the lowest C/N ratio compared to compost from plants. Organic materials that have a high lignin content will inhibit the speed of N mineralization and the C/N ratio will be high. In fact, further decomposition of organic matter is characterized by a low C/N ratio. Meanwhile, a high C/N ratio indicates that decomposition has not yet continued or has just started. In this process there is a decrease in carbon / C and an increase in nitrogen / N.

The need for compost on marginal land such as sandy land is also much greater, reaching almost twice as much as on ordinary or standard land. Meanwhile, the need for chemical fertilizer on marginal land is usually less than on normal/standard land. Ideally, using compost at optimal doses will be able to increase plant productivity and preserve the environment.

Unlike compost which will completely decompose, as a soil amendment, biochar can last hundreds of years in the soil. Biochar, which has a large surface area, also has many micropores which increase soil porosity, like compost. Pyrolysis conditions are important in determining the quality of biochar besides the biochar raw material itself. In rough textured soils such as sandy land, biochar will improve water and nutrient retention because its micro pores slow down its release (slow velocity). The quality of biochar is directly proportional to the efficacy of biochar treatment. A number of parameters related to the application of biochar for soil improvement/treatment are also similar to compost, including: soil carbon content and mineralization, soil micro-structural & aggregation, bioavailable nitrogen, and microbial activity & diversity. Almost all biochar is not fertilizer like compost, read more details here, so inoculation (charging) of biochar before application can be done by filling the biochar pores with water containing specific chemical elements or microbes. This will produce rapid positive effects compared to biochar alone. Apart from that, biochar is also used to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere as carbon sequestration. This is very much in line with the current problems of climate change and global warming.

Biochar is a heterogeneous substance rich in aromatic carbon and minerals. Biochar is produced from the pyrolysis process (a process where organic material is decomposed at temperatures between 350 to 1000 C with well-controlled conditions of minimal or no oxygen and is widely used for soil amendment). The carbon content for biochar must be above 50%, whereas if pyrolysis products of organic material with a carbon content of less than 50% are not included in the biochar category but are referred to as pyrogenic carbonaceous material (PCM). The organic carbon content of pyrolyzed char fluctuates between the range of 5% and 95%, depending on the raw material and temperature. process used. For example, the carbon content from pyrolysis of chicken manure is around 25%, while from wood it is around 85% and bone is less than 10%. When using mineral-rich raw materials such as sewage sludge or animal waste, the pyrolysis products will contain high ash so that the total pores are smaller.

Apart from that, biochar must also have a molar ratio of H/Corg of less than 0.7 and a molar ratio of O/Corg must be less than 0.4. The molar ratio of H/Corg is an indicator of its degree of carbonization (pyrolysis) and is therefore closely related to the stability of biochar, which is one of the most important characteristics of biochar. This ratio fluctuates depending on the type of biomass used and the conditions of the production process. A ratio value that exceeds 0.7 indicates non-pyrolytic char or inadequate pyrolysis process conditions. Meanwhile, the O/Corg ratio is also used to differentiate it from other carbon products. Specific surface area is also a measure of the quality and characteristics of biochar, and also a control value for the pyrolysis method used. Although a surface area of less than 150 m2/gram can be used in certain cases, it is preferred or preferred if it is more than 150 m2/gram.

With the characteristics above, compost and biochar as well as chemical fertilizers can be used together, even in the composting process biochar can also be added to reduce N organic released into the atmosphere. Apart from increasing the number of micro pores in the soil or increasing the total pores, the nutrients from compost and chemical fertilizers will also be released more slowly (slow release). How slow release the fertilizer can be designed depends on needs, for more details you can read here. When biochar is used properly, it can maximize harvest productivity, improve soil fertility and minimize environmental impacts. Four things need to be considered when applying biochar, namely the right source of biochar, the right location (right place), the right dose (right rate) and the right time. Not all types of soil and plants will produce increased yields from biochar applications, so it is important to know what type of soil produces increased productivity. A soil map can help to identify soil types that have the potential to provide benefits or advantages from the application of biochar. Farmers can consult with agricultural consultants or professionals in the field to help with the selection and application of biochar. 

Utilization of Marginal Land and Former Coal Mines for Ruminant Livestock and Charcoal Briquette Production

Photo is taken from here

The extent of marginal land including critical land and unused land which reaches more than 6 million hectares as well as ex-coal mining land which is estimated to reach 8 million hectares are environmental problems that must be overcome. Turning these lands back into productive land so that apart from preventing a bigger environmental disaster, it also provides other benefits for human life. One solution to this problem is to plant the land with pioneer plants of the leguminoceae group whose roots firmly grip the soil and are in symbiosis with azetobacter so that it fertilizes the soil such as calliandra and gliricidia as well as its leaves as a source of animal feed, flowers for honey production, and the wood for the production of charcoal briquettes. Or in other words, the establishment of the plantation besides having environmental benefits as an effort for conservation and land reclamation along with water conservation, of course, also provides benefits for ruminant livestock or the production of animal feed and the production of charcoal briquettes. Ruminant farms, namely sheep, goats and cattle, are very suitable to be developed using the leaves of the plantation. The combination with charcoal briquettes, namely by using the wood, is an ideal combination or integration. In a number of countries the charcoal briquettes are used as fuel for grilling BBQ from lamb, goat and beef. So in addition to all parts of the tree can be utilized also even the final product of livestock in the form of meat and wood processing so that it becomes charcoal briquettes also meet again. An interesting and unique blend or integration.

The need for red meat, namely lamb, goat and beef in the country itself is still lacking, so it requires an adequate supply. In terms of goat and lamb meat, the need for the Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi) area alone has not been met, so it is supplied alternately from East Java, Central Java and Lampung alternately. In addition, according to Aspaqin (Association of Indonesian Aqiqah Entrepreneurs) there has been an imbalance in the supply of sheep and goats due to the large number of female productive sheep and goats being slaughtered. This condition causes the sustainability of the supply of sheep and goats to be disrupted. According to data from Aspaqin that they collected, 63% of female sheep and goats were slaughtered from a total of 331,693 slaughtered tails. Of course there are still many who are not recorded because there are still many aqiqah entrepreneurs who are not members of the Aspaqin. In addition, there are also many stalls for eating goat dishes, such as satay stalls which still slaughter productive sheep and female goats. Aspaqin continues to strive for education and socialization to improve these conditions, including a proposal to provide punishment for the slaughter of these productive females.

Meanwhile, in the beef cattle sector, Indonesia has the advantage of fattening cattle (feedlot). With the availability of a lot of agricultural wastes and agro-industrial wastes in Indonesia, this business is very competitive, even indonesia is the best. Moreover, this is by creating a plantation that is specifically designed for the feed source by utilizing land that can be said to be unproductive at first. By only taking about 100-120 days, the fattening was successful or completed, although in general, breeder or seed cattle are generally still imported from Australia. Australia, especially northern Australia is the center of the seed cattle. With the vast grazing area there, the cost of producing feeder cattle is very competitive and cannot be done well in Indonesia. Although there are a number of discourses to produce seed cattle in eastern Indonesia and palm oil plantations, the facts are still not or are still very minimal. In addition, according to Gapuspindo (Indonesian Beef Cattle Farmers Association), the domestic demand for beef has not been met or there is still a shortage of around 60% and this shortage is filled by imports of buffalo meat from India. Buffalo meat from India actually has to be sold cheaper than beef, but in fact it is the same as beef. This condition is getting worse, especially in the period leading up to the Eid al-Fitr holiday with lots of illegal meat circulating, such as wild boar meat.

Charcoal briquettes are a product of wood processing from the plantation. The production of charcoal briquettes using wood raw materials must also be managed properly so that it can be sustainable. The important thing to note is that the harvest of wood for the production of charcoal briquettes should not exceed the production of wood from the plantation itself, for example the need for wood for the production of briquettes is 1000 tons / month, the speed of wood production from the plantation is at least the same as the wood harvested every month. Charcoal briquette production techniques are also available in 2 options or routes such as the scheme below. However, route 1, which is briquetting before carbonization, is more in demand because the quality of the briquettes produced is better. In this route, the wood biomass raw material has been downsized so that the particle size is suitable for the production of the briquettes and the dryness level has also been adjusted and then briquetted or pressed in a briquette machine without using additional adhesive. The briquette product is then carbonized so that it becomes the final product in the form of charcoal briquettes or commonly known as sawdust charcoal briquette.

 

Photo is taken from here

In addition to domestic consumption, sheep and goats are also export commodities to a number of countries. Information obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture's Pusdatin (Centre of datas and informations) that Indonesian sheep and goats have been exported, among others, to Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Basically, the choice to do sheep and goat export business is the choice of the breeders or farmers  themself and the specifications for the export market are also different for local needs. If the local market generally uses sheep and goats weighing 25-35 kg per head, the export market generally requires a weight above 35 kg per head. For example, for a large market for sheep and goats, Saudi Arabia, especially during the hajj season, reaches around 2 million heads or a quarter of the country's needs, which means it reaches 8 million heads per year.

And lastly, basically the need for food, especially animal protein and more specifically from ruminants sheep, goats and cattle will continue to increase along with the increase in the population itself. The world population is estimated to reach 10 billion in 2050 or 1.3 times today and Indonesia's population will reach 319 million in 2045 or 1.2 times from today. Another thing that deserves attention is Indonesia's demographic bonus. The demographic bonus with the dominance of the productive young generation should be a separate strength for the Indonesian nation if it is supported and directed properly. This sector is certainly one solution. With the vast land area in Indonesia that can be used for this business, God willing, it will overcome various important problems today such as food security, preventing environmental damage, creating jobs, improving living standards, improving food quality and so on.