The Warm Heart biochar training program now extends far beyond Phrao and even Thailand

In February, 2017 Warm Heart Environmental Program provided a biochar training program for a diverse group of interested large farm holders from Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The training was held at our facilities in Phrao.

Dr. Michael Shafer led the classroom training over a 4-day period and Warm Heart Environmental Biochar Specialist Dr. Karl J. Frogner provided hands-on field training with the Warm Heart trough.

In April, Karl followed up with a trip to Brunei to help implement a biochar program for one of the attendees to the February training.

While in Brunei, Karl met with the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism who was touring in Tutong to have a closer look at the farms in the area.

The visit was part of the minister’s initiative to meet farmers in the country to understand their problems and urge them to take up higher value-added crops and more sustainable farming.

The Minister stated “It is the right time for people to take up agriculture as a lucrative business opportunity. It is one of the most effective ways to diversify the economy to reduce the nation’s heavy reliance on oil and gas and to ensure food security, food self-sufficiency and employment,”

Karl had the opportunity to explain to the Minister of Agriculture and a team of senior government people the benefits and usage of Biochar.

The program kicked off with farm workers collecting coconut fronds as the core feedstock.

Biochar Training Program: Recent China Trip

Dr. Michael Shafer recently returned from a productive trip to China with great results in three separate biochar trainings, as well as presentations at the Yunnan Academy of Social Science Rural Development Institute and Yunnan University.

The trainings focused on teaching small farmers how to make biochar from crop wastes and how to use biochar-based fertilizers to improve their yields. They also addressed Party officials, explaining how ending crop burning by producing biochar can help to reverse climate change, reduce the public health burden of smoke and smog, and reduce heavy metal contamination in fields.

Warm Heart plans to continue to hold training programs to help farmers around the globe to understand the benefits of biochar and how to set up their own biochar systems. Dr. Shafer and a partner in Malaysia are currently exploring plans to develop biochar systems for large coconut, palm oil, rubber, and pulp and paper plantations.