Finding Solutions Societal Problems
Agricultural practices often produce significant byproducts that result from extensive cultivation. When farmers fail to manage them properly, such as through inappropriate burning, the situation can lead to significant environmental issues, to say nothing of how it adds to larger problems like global warming. In the province of Nan, many agricultural byproducts are generated from crops such as animal-feed corn, including corn husks, corn stalks, and corn cobs.
The School of Agricultural Resources at Chulalongkorn University, an academic institution responsible for education, research, and academic services in agricultural resource management, has recently found a solution by transforming such agricultural byproducts into biochar, increasing their value. They have found a way to effectively convert these byproducts into biochar by using standardized kilns that produce high-quality charcoal and biochar with diverse qualities.
Over the past several years, Dr. Supin Sangsuk, an assistant professor at the School of Agricultural Resources at Chulalongkorn University, has been actively engaged in collaborative work with farmers. Her work, which involves providing knowledge, guidance, and support to promote the utilization of agricultural byproducts and researching the beneficial uses of biochar, finally paid off. Furthermore, Dr. Supin has collaborated with experts in crop production, utilizing woody branches from pruning and trimming fruit trees to produce biochar. The biochar is then used to enhance soil quality in a circular economy approach, or it can be utilized as an energy source for cooking.
Founded in March 1917, Chulalongkorn University is Thailand's first institution of higher education. Over the past century, the institute has been home to an exceptional alumni network. This special issue is a dedication to the prestigious alumni of Chulalongkorn University. Do let us know your thoughts.