Output
1) Background Paper
A background paper will be developed based on a desk study approach to review the best practices for the effectiveness of soil conditioners. The paper will support policy frameworks from Malaysia and several Asian economies (Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia).
The background paper will cover a literature review on soil conditioner technology and include several sections, an executive summary, introduction, technology background, research method, key findings and conclusion, and annexes. The information will be useful to oversee the potential of the proposed project policy paper. The background paper is estimated to be a minimum of 40 pages, excluding annexes.
Section 1: Executive summary
This section will cover a summary of the problem statement, methods and recommendations related to best practices in agriculture using soil conditioner.
Section 2: Introduction
This section will highlight in detail biochar and effective microbes used as soil conditioners. Its advantages and weaknesses of this application.
Suggestions to overcome the weakness of the developed technology. Section 3: Technology background
This section will cover in detail the know-how to develop soil conditioner and its application as a soil conditioner in the agriculture sector.
Section 4: Research Method
This section will cover on research method used to construct the background paper.
Section 5: Key findings
This section will include a comprehensive desktop study reviewing current information and the latest technologies related to biochar, beneficial microbes and soil conditioners, as documented in relevant literature. The findings from this study will serve as the foundation for developing comprehensive practices that will inform our policy recommendations.
Section 6: Conclusion
This section contains suggestions and a summary of the background paper. This includes suggestions for other applications related to soil conditioner.
A completed background paper will be submitted to APEC secretariate for review and approval.
2) 2-Day In-Person Workshop
2-days international workshop on training for the technology transfer concepts to Indigenous people (50% male and 50% female). This workshop open for participants from all 21 APEC economies. The total number for this workshop is 32 participants. The workshop will be held in a local indigenous village in Tasik Chini, Pahang, Malaysia.
The 2-day workshop will include presentations for 3 sections. i) Biochar application in soil amendment. ii) functional microbes in soil treatment and their mechanism. iii) Best practice on soil conditioner in the agriculture sector.
Participants will be exposed to a workshop related to biochar production and soil conditioner formulation using effective microbes. The participants from the local Indigenous people and APEC economies will be exposed to fundamental knowledge of beneficial soil microbiology, how to select beneficial soil microbes for agriculture and simple techniques in microbe cultivation on day one. Later, the participants will be taught how to produce biochar from agricultural waste using simple and fast technology during the second day. The technology for biochar production uses a furnace system where agricultural waste is heated in a controlled condition until it becomes char. The furnace used is specifically designed to withstand high temperature and pressure to produce valuable biochar in a short time. However, for safety purposes, workshop for biochar production will be a sharing lecture which will include a demonstration using a video presentation alongside the full-scale furnace (which will not be operational or heated). Participants will a also be provided with handout materials containing detailed explanations from the lecture.
Day one will cover a plenary talk by experts from a local university. The talk will cover three fundamental topics, including beneficial soil microbes, microbes for agriculture and techniques in microbe cultivation. Each talk session will be delivered for approximately one hour. A breakout session consisting of training related to soil conditioner formulation using effective microorganisms (EM) used in soil treatment will be conducted by the three experts in the field. The session will take approximately 5 hours of training. On the second day, the workshop will be related to biochar production technology from agricultural waste. This training will focus on simple and feasible techniques in biochar production delivered by experts from participating economies. The training will be conducted for 5 hours. At the end of the workshop, participants will be given a survey form, feedback and a discussion session to highlight the outcomes. The feedback and discussion session will involve local agencies to help participants practice their new knowledge.
Participants will be involved in a Q&A session related to the roadmap and recommendations for soil conditioner practice in Malaysia and other economies.
The session will include a forum discussing topics related to soil conditioner application in general and its way forward in the agriculture sector. The forum will be delivered by three experts in the field from APEC economies. The session will be held for one hour.
3) Project Summary Report
The project summary report will include a summary report from the workshop, a highlight of the background research report and policy recommendations of workshop participants. This report will contain detailed activities and outcomes obtained from the workshop. The report will consist of a minimum of 20 pages excluding annexes.
Outcome
1) Improved awareness of participants of best practices in soil conditioners.
2) Deepened understanding for participants of how effective soil treatment can restore nutrients suitable for agricultural activity.
3) Increasing the skill of participants in soil treatment through the formulation of biochar fortified with an effective local microbiome.
Beneficiaries
This project will have both direct and indirect beneficiaries. Direct beneficiaries, such as experts from universities in the agriculture sector, will be able to share and transfer knowledge to participants related to agricultural best practices. The Malaysia Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) 's involvement as a policy maker may help expedite the current policy related to agriculture. Apart from MAFS, the workshop will involve various stakeholders from APEC economies related to the agriculture sector.
This includes academic institutions, government staff and policy makers.
The participants from local Indigenous people will be most influenced by this project. The majority of the participants are farmers. Some of the indigenous people depend on natural resources as their main income. Invitations will be sent to their village representative as this project is not the first community engagement between the PO and the indigenous community. At the end of the program, they will learn the latest technology and be able to practice the knowledge. Apart from that, the knowledge learned will be beneficial to improve their economic status via agriculture practice improvement, etc. On the other hand, agriculture-based industry players will be exposed to current technology in utilizing biomass waste to generate more income as one of the circular economy practices.
