SABAH, BORNEO: Sustainability has emerged as the key theme for Verde Resources Inc. (VRDR - US OTCQB).
Verde Resources aspires to materialise a sustainable growth business model focusing on the three main pillars of economic, environmental and social benefits. President Balakrishnan Muthu (pic above) believes these benefits would revolve around people, planet and profits.
“We strive to refine the abundance of palm waste for long term food security through sustainable farming while tackling the global climate agenda. We believe that palm oil waste such as empty fruit bunch (EFB) and palm kernel shell (PKS) need not go to waste. Although we have already discovered some exciting byproducts, we will continue to invest in research and development. It is a shame that so much palm biomass is recklessly dumped or left to rot,” said Balakrishnan.
According to data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 20.6 million tons of empty fruit bunch (EFB) was discarded by the palm oil mills of Malaysia in 2019. In Indonesia, the estimate was higher, at 59.5 million tons of discarded EFB. Most often, the waste is left to decay.
Balakrishnan further explained that current common utilisation of EFB and PKS have yet to maximize its potential in commercial value. “We believe that Verde can take the sustainability agenda even further as our BioFraction technology – involving an advanced proprietary, modified catalytic vacuum pyrolysis, and temperature controlled thermochemical process – has almost ‘alchemy’-like abilities in converting palm waste into biochar, bio-oil, bio-syngas and plant natural enzyme (PNE) or also known as Wood Vinegar.”
Biochar, in particular, is an excellent soil amendment. It can improve soil pH & structure, reduce erosion, improve water retention, host microbial activity, and most importantly, has the ability to sequester large amounts of carbon.
“To date, we have completed two pilot projects in Sabah, Borneo. For one, we successfully turned an acre of wasteland, where previously not even grass could grow, into an active eggplant producing farm. Wood Vinegar or Plant Natural Enzyme (PNE) has various benefits, including repelling insects and termites for the organic farming and agriculture industry. It would greatly increase yield,” said Balakrishnan.
From wasteland to abundant harvests of eggplants
The wasteland referred to is located in Lahad Datu, Sabah, a site that was backfilled with used earth from nearby refineries, which is very low in nutrients and even lower in organic properties.
In 2020, biochar was applied to eggplant as part of Verde’s initial pilot program to transform the wasteland site for agricultural purposes. A mixture of manure and PNE (wood vinegar) was applied once a week to fertilise the crops.
Before (left) and after (right) of what was formerly wasteland in Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia.
By 2nd quarter of 2021, the initial eggplant harvest resulted in 150 kgs of crop harvest in the first week. The crops were organically grown, no synthetics or chemicals were applied.
“That’s the miracle combo of biochar & PNE,” said Balakrishnan. “Biochar improves soil pH and structure, reduces erosion, improves water retention while acts as a host for microbial activity and improves crop size.”
Avocados cultivated via Regenerative Practices in Keningau, Sabah
Balakrishnan cited another Verde pilot project in Keningau, Sabah, which benefited from palm waste renewable resources.
Keningau Nature Farm has been harvesting avocado once a year before participating in Verde’s pilot program. Their avocados are cultivated within the Keningau highlands located on a 2.5-hectare farm.
The three main strategies utilised with Verde resources in the pilot project to enhance Keningau Nature Farm’s production:
1. A mixture of Vermicompost Tea (ratio 1:50) and Wood vinegar (Ratio 1:200) sprayed every 7-10 days on the entire tree, canopy and surrounding crop ground.
2. A mixture of Mycorrhizae and Biochar buried in the crop ground, once every 6 months.
3. A mixture of organic manure with Biochar applied once every 3 months in the surrounding crop ground
As a result, the avocados produced are high quality grade. In terms of flesh quality, there are little to no traces of infection, the taste is nutty and creamy with no chemical contamination, according to tests carried out by the Sabah Department of Agriculture. The avocados produced had less problems with anthracnose fungal or insect attacks. Since the initial pilot project, Keningau Nature Farm has experienced three harvests the following year.
Balakrishnan explained that when PNE (wood vinegar) is applied to biochar, it activates the biochar, and when biochar is reintroduced across cropland, the action becomes a sustainable form of carbon sequestration and an economical way to improve cropland and its produce.
Environmental experts such as Mark Hertsgaard, in an article published at the Yale School of The Environment, advocates that adding biochar to 10% of global croplands could sequester the equivalent of 29 billion tons of carbon dioxide.
Verde Resources’ commitment to a regenerative and sustainability agenda in line with the global climate initiatives will indeed provide a promising and green future.
The above article was contributed by SGM Consulting for Malaysiakini.
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