Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) - biomass...
Transcript of Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) - biomass...
EU-Asia Biomass Best Practices and Business Partnering Conference 20127-10 May 2012, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opportunities and Prospects of
Biofertilizer and Bioorganic Fertilizer
in Malaysia
Khairuddin Abdul Rahim
Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia)
With special inputs from: Phua Choo Kwai Hoe, Ahmad Nazrul Abd Wahid, Ahamad Sahali Mardi, Pauline Liew Woan Ying (Nuclear Malaysia);Prof. Dr. Zulkifli Haji Shamsuddin, Zakry Fitri Ab Aziz, Tan Kee Zuan (Universiti Putra Malaysia); Shen Lim, Azlan Yaacob, Kogulan
Saiger (Inno Integrasi); Norhayati Md Taib, Elyana Md Shariff, Salwa Hashim, Nur Hani Ramli, (MYAGRI)
Introduction
The R&D&C
Challenges and Obstacles of the Biofertilizer Industry
Opportunities
Prospects &The Way Forward
Concluding Remarks
• Considerable visibility of biofertilizer and bioorganic fertilizers in the Malaysian
agroindustry scene over the past ten years.
• Numerous biofertilizer products displayed during agricultural exhibitions, notably the
biennial MAHA events, and new products entering the biotechnology and industrial awards
competitions.
• Public, the farmers and the large plantation industries of oil palm and rubber are
becoming more familiar with biofertilizer products, although the understanding of the term
‘biofertilizer’ may be different to different people.
• There is a marked inroad of biofertilizer products entering into traditionally chemical
fertilizer dependent agricultural industry of Malaysia.
• Organic farming is gaining recognition and is being promoted on health aspects, for
example on food safety, green technology and environmental wellbeing, which is acceptable
to a section of the public.
• Presently there is little control on the sale of products claimed as
‘biofertilizers’ that are produced locally and from abroad.
• The Malaysian Fertilizer Bill has been tabled in the Parliament and is
expected to be formalised as an Act soon.
• The Technical Committee on Fertilizer Standards is currently drafting the
quality standards for chemical and organic fertilizers, and it is hoped that
the standard for biofertilizer will be forthcoming too.
Biofertilizer - a substance that contains living microorganisms and
helps with expansion of the root system, better seed germination
and general plant growth.
Examples of biofertilizer microorganisms – N2 fixing bacteria
(Rhizobium spp., Azospirillum spp. Azotobacter spp.), phosphate
solubilising microbes (Bacillus spp., Klebsiella spp., Penicillium spp);
plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, PGPR (Azotobacter spp.,
Enterobacter spp.); arbuscular mycorrhiza.
Biofertilizers usually need a carrier as medium for the inoculants. A
suitable carrier material needs to be inexpensive; easily available;
high in organic matter content, free from microbial contamination
and can optimise the growth of the biofertilizer microorganisms.
Bioorganic Fertilizer (BOF) - biofertilizer microorganisms
incorporated into Organic Fertilizer (e.g. Compost)
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Carrier ProductionEFB
POME
H2O
Mixing Packing 35-50 kGy
Gamma-irradiation
MINTec-Sinagama
BIOFERTILIZER PRODUCTION
Inoculum Production
Batch Culture
Mother culture
Purity test
Gamma-irradiated
bags
InoculationIncubation
28°C ± 2
Quality
AssuranceField
Experiments/
Ready for Use
Sources: Khairuddin Abdul Rahim et al. (2004, 2005, 2006);
Zakry Fitri Abdul Aziz et al. (2005; 2006)
STERILE
CONDITION
R&D products of Malaysian Nuclear Agency (NUCLEAR MALAYSIA) – multifunctional
biofertilizer and bioorganic fertilizers.
Activities related to biofertilizer projects, Nuclear Malaysia: Biofertilizer trials on vanilla orchid; Exhibition and
promotion at SMI event; Innovation Competition Awards; Technology Transfer Agreement signing event
The R&D&C
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SINAGAMA Irradiation PlantCobalt-60 Gamma Irradiator
Gammacell
Source: Prof. Dr Zulkifli
Gamma Irradiation Autoclaving
No change in physical and chemical properties of the vermiculite*
Some changes in physical and chemical properties*May be produce toxic substance to some bacterial strain*Some of the vermiculite lumping
Cheaper: RM 400/t Cost and time consuming:-the autoclave consume high level of electricity and limited in vol.-60 kg of vermiculite can be sterilized/week/1 unit of autoclave.
Easy to handle -Need to re-packaging into double layer of HDPE plastic bag.
*Biofertilizer Manual by Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) March 2006
Source: MYAGRI
MYAGRI Bio-manufacturing Complex, Nilai, MALAYSIA
Several biofertilizer and bioorganic fertilizer products manufactured and commercialised by the company Malaysian Agri Hi-Tech Sdn. Bhd. (MYAGRI), Malaysia
(photos courtesy of MYAGRI)
One of Malaysia’s bioproduct company
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Atmosphere
78% 14N2
UPMB10 inoculum
>109 cells g-1
14N fertiliser/soil/native microbes
15N labelled14N
Removal of biomass from the land without
replenishment results in
decrease of productivity and life span of biological
assets due to diseases and soil degradation
Status and Strategy of Commercial
Application of Biofertilizers
• Several large plantation companies in Malaysia, e.g. Felda, Felcra and Sime Darby are embarking
on their own biofertilizer production, especially for oil palm. Oil palm production has been
dependent on chemical fertilizers. Their interest in biofertilizer is partly due to increasing cost of
chemical fertilizers, particularly urea, and partly to awareness on green technology for crop
production. Felcra has also shown interest in the use of biofertilizers for rice production.
• Small scale farmers, however, received fertilizers at subsidised price. Their long association with
chemical fertilizer make many quite reluctant to invest on biofertilizers to complement the
chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, they have to buy biofertilizers at market price.
• A way to encourage more use of biofertilizer is to introduce subsidy scheme to farmers, similar
to that of chemical fertilizer.
•However, the farmers have to be informed of the application, storage and efficiency of these
biological products, for good effects on their crop productivity. Everyone has to be made aware
that biofertilizers cannot replace chemical fertilizers totally; they can complement the chemical
fertilizers and other agricultural inputs for good crop productivity and well being of the people and
the environment.
Why bioorganic fertilizers are important for our agroindustry:
• Malaysia is the highest consumer of chemical fertilizer per ha of arable land (220
kg/ha, vs 80 kg/ha as average in Asian countries)
• More than 90% of chemical fertilizers are imported (issue of National Security)
• 60% of cost of production in oil palm are on fertilizers
• Malaysia is facing infertile soil due to loss of top soil and years of planting on
same soil in addition to increasing pest and diseases
• The pressure faced by Industry to become more sustainable especially pressure to
achieve the Sustainable Oil Certificate and Roundtable of Sustainable Oil Palm
• Climate Changes where the climate pattern suitable for planting, weeding and
fertilizing hardly exists providing greater stress to overall plantation management
Source: Inno Integrasi
Figures and rationalisation
•Malaysia imports 4,162,500 MT of fertilizer worth RM9.17 Billion (Year 2008);
•450,000 MT are N-based Fertilizers (Urea & Ammonium Sulphate/Chloride/Nitrate)
•For comparison purposes FIVE kg of Bioorganic fertilizer is able to supply the same
amount of nutrients as ONE kg of N-based fertilizer. Thus, if we were to totally replace N-
based fertilizers, a total of 7,250,000 MT Bioorganic fertilizers needs to be produced and
readily available. Currently that capacity is far from attainable.
•MyAgri, one Bioorganic Fertilisers producer in Malaysia intends to substitute 20% of
imported N-based fertilizer, i.e. a total of 290,000 MT of products.
•The Market size for bioorganic fertilizer is : RM 638.87 Million/yr
Source: Inno Integrasi & MYAGRI
Challenges and Obstacles of the Biofertilizer Industry
• The main challenge today is to produce good biofertilizer products for different
crops at affordable price.
•Biofertilizer products have to be versatile; their use has to be easy and can emulate
the functions of a compound fertilizer formulation.
• The use of gamma irradiation to sterilise carriers and substrate is only suitable for
large scale production of biofertilizer products.
• There is also the need to study the effectiveness of sterilisation techniques to
destroy pathogens, such as Ganoderma, and proper control on the quality of
biofertilizer produces. This is of particular concern, especially to plantation companies
using their agricultural wastes as carriers, since some may opt for pasteurisation or
non-sterilisation approach. This can lead to disastrous effects on certain plantation
crops.
• Good products are often backed by good practices at production stage. Quality of
products has to be maintained, at acceptable standard.
There is a need for biofertilizer companies, to self-regulate, for the
production of biofertilizer that meet quality standards.
Use of imported products have to be regularised, with stringent adherence
to quality and safety standards.
Long history of chemical fertilizer use in the country; plantation industries
need much convincing on the effectiveness of different biofertilizer
products.
Biofertilizer products – delivering ‘potentials’ of nutrients, and not exact
content of nutrients, as in chemical fertilizers. Extensive biofertilizer
multilocation trials on different crops are necessary.
Threats from products claimed as ‘biofertilizer’; the need for proper
regulation; compliance to Malaysian Fertilizer Act; Malaysian Standards for
Fertilizers; currently being drafted.
N-inorganic fertilizer for immature oil palm : 1.2 kg
Ammonium Sulfate (21% N) ≡
0.5 kg Urea (46% N) / palm / year
148 palms / ha :
148 x 0.5 kg Urea = 75 kg Urea / ha
63% Ndfa with B-10 biofertilizer :
0.6 x 75 kg Urea / ha = 45 kg fixed N / ha
(BNF)
Assumption of 25% of total planted oil palm (4.2 million ha)
using B-10 biofertilizer :
1.0 million ha x 45 kg fixed N =
45.0 million kg fixed N
Current price for urea / t :
RM 1800
However, gamma irradiation cost :
RM400 / t
effective inoculum
effective carrier
inoculum cost
carrier sterilisation/irradiation cost
transportation cost
application rate / frequency
• Less reliance on imported chemical fertilizers (many from fossil fuel
based sources) – cost savings
• Protection of biological assets from plant diseases– healthier plants
result in higher yield, longer lifespan and higher productivity
• Established high value green and biotechnology products and services
have good potential in other palm oil producing countries (Indonesia,
PNG, Western Africa) – Malaysia as hub for ‘bio and green’ technologies
• Large fertilizer production and customized blends allows for niche
product development – good potential for development of organic food
industry
• Demand for treated organic fertilizers in Japan, Korea, Europe and the
USA
Opportunities
Source: Inno Integrasi & MYAGRI
Collaboration with companies for transfer of technology and
commercialisation.
Incentives to biofertilizer companies in support of ‘Green
Technology’ for food safety and societal wellbeing.
Proposal for government subsidy of biofertilizers to farmers, as
given to chemical fertilizers.
Regulation on QC/standards of biofertilizer products.
Scientific and technical support from groups like the Forum for
Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) – Biofertilizer Project
(www.fnca.mext.go.jp).
Biofertilizer & BOF R&D has come a long way in Malaysia.
The biofertilizer industry is flourishing, gaining acceptability in the
plantation industry.
Increasing awareness on biofertilizers by public and plantation industries;
plantation companies are embarking on own biofertilizer production.
Advanced technology (e.g. irradiation technology) can enhance quality of
biofertilizer products.
For biofertilizers to have good reputation, versatility is important, especially
in terms of function, effectiveness, ease of application and affordability.
• Biomass-SP
• MOSTI
• Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia)
• Inno Integrasi
• MYAGRI Group of Companies
• Universiti Putra Malaysia
• FNCA Biofertilizer Project
Acknowledgment
thank you