A sustainable solution for food security

Food scarcity is a complex issue that affects millions of people all over the country. There are several factors that contribute food scarcity including climate change, natural disasters, conflict and political instability, poverty and economic inequality. Poverty and economic inequality also major contributors to food scarcity. To reduce food scarcity there needs to be a coordinated effort to tackle the root causes of the problem. This can include investing in sustainable agriculture, supporting small scale farmers and promoting economic development to decrease poverty.

Biochar a form of charcoal produce from organic materials such as Rice husk, wood powder, waste materials etc through a process called pyrolysis, is gaining attention as a potential solution to mitigate food security challenges around the world. It has numerous benefits for soil health and crop production, which could help to increase crop yields and improve food security in regions with poor soil quality. One of the key benefit of biochar is its ability to improve soil fertility and water retention. When added to soil, biochar acts like a sponge, absorbing water and nutrients and releasing them slowly over time. Biochar helps to prevent soil erosion and nutrient loss, and improve soil structure and porosity, which in turn enhance root growth and nutrient uptake by plants. It reduces greenhouse gas emission. Biochar increase carbon sequestration, locking it away for centuries or even millennia. It helps mitigate climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Waste management is a significant problem in Bangladesh, particularly urban areas where there is inadequate infrastructure and a lack of resources to manage the growing amount of waste generated by its population. According to a report by the world bank, the country generates around 22.4 million tons of waste annually, with only 40% of it being collected and disposed properly. The rest of the waste is either dumped in open spaces or left on the streets, which poses a serious threat to public health and the environment. The inadequate waste management and lack of proper waste disposal mechanisms have resulted in the pollution of rivers, soil and groundwater. The accumulation of waste has also lead to the spread of diseases and the proliferation of rats and mosquito’s, which can transmit various illnesses.

Biochar can be used in waste management is by converting organic waste into a stable carbon form, create a valuable soil amendment. By converting organic waste into biochar , the waste is removed from the waste stream and turned into a valuable product that can be used in a variety of purposes. One of the major economic benefits of biochar is its potential to increase agricultural productivity and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. It also helps for lowering input costs for farmers. Biochar can also be used as a renewable energy source. It can be burned in power plants to generate electricity or used as a fuel for heating homes and buildings.

Professor Dr. Shamim Mia from Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh is working with biochar in a national and international level. He is trying to develop biochar based fertilizer and waste management strategies all over the country. Recently ACI Bangladesh also build up a collaboration with Patuakhali Science and Technology for biochar based commercial fertilizer development. Government of Malaysia also provided the fund for biochar based fertilizer development project in Malaysia where professor Dr. Shamim Mia is a one of the team member from Bangladesh. We hope that Bangladesh government will take some initiatives for promote biochar production such as develop a national policy, promote biochar research and development, establish a biochar production infrastructure, increase awareness and incorporate biochar into national climate change strategies. By implementing these strategies, Bangladesh government can promote the use of biochar which can increase crop productivity and enhance sustainable economic development all over the country.

The writer is Doctoral Research fellow, University Putra Malaysia and Secretary, International Collaboration for food Security and Sustainable Agriculture (ICFSA).