Our Research Scaling a decentralized biomass torrefaction reactor for localized fertilizer production that improves farmers’ yields and reduces irrigation needs

Kung under torrefaction reactor

Kevin Kung working on torrefaction reactor prototype at MIT Bates lab. Photo credit: Sonal Thengane

Vidyut Mohan speaking to farmers in Punjab, India

Vidyut Mohan speaking to farmers in Punjab, India. Photo credit: Sonal Thengane

Sonal Thengane working on a biochar test plot

Sonal Thengane working on a biochar test plot. Photo credit: Sonal Thengane

Mohan speaking with farmers in circle

Vidyut Mohan interacting with farmers in Punjab, India. Photo credit: Sonal Thengane

Raw light colored rice husks on left compared to dark, torrefied rice husks on left

Comparison of raw rice husks and torrefied rice husks produced from our prototype. Photo credit: Kevin Kung

Kung under torrefaction reactor

Kevin Kung working on torrefaction reactor prototype at MIT Bates lab. Photo credit: Sonal Thengane

Vidyut Mohan speaking to farmers in Punjab, India

Vidyut Mohan speaking to farmers in Punjab, India. Photo credit: Sonal Thengane

Sonal Thengane working on a biochar test plot

Sonal Thengane working on a biochar test plot. Photo credit: Sonal Thengane

Mohan speaking with farmers in circle

Vidyut Mohan interacting with farmers in Punjab, India. Photo credit: Sonal Thengane

Raw light colored rice husks on left compared to dark, torrefied rice husks on left

Comparison of raw rice husks and torrefied rice husks produced from our prototype. Photo credit: Kevin Kung

Principal Investigators

Challenge:

How can we reduce the cost and improve the accessibility of fertilizers to rural farmers?

Research Strategy

  • Conduct technoeconomic analysis and stakeholder interviews
  • Design and test prototypes
  • Create and carry out multifactorial test plots

Project description

Many smallholder farmers in rural areas depend on costly, imported synthetic fertilizers that over the long term may acidify and degrade their soils. By applying a biomass pretreatment technology known as oxygen-lean torrefaction, the research team developed a series of reactor designs that can be deployed in a small-scale, low-cost, and decentralized manner in rural villages to convert the locally available agricultural residues into a carbon-rich fertilizer intermediate in just under one hour without requiring external energy input. This can drastically reduce the logistical cost of the imported fertilizer supply chain. Because their product can additionally counteract soil acidity and reduce overall farmland irrigation needs, they have estimated that at the same price that farmers pay for fertilizer inputs, their harvest yields can increase by 10%, and net income by 70%, using our technology and process, based on our experience with a small-scale village pilot. If successful, this technology could help establish a network of village-based fertilizer production facilities, each supporting a local group of 1,000 farmers within a 10-mile radius, and yielding a net profit of around $40,000/year. This then addresses a $30 billion/year opportunity in rural fertilizer access, while improving food security and reducing irrigation needs.

Outcomes

  • Interviewed over 100 rural famers in India
  • Collaborated with ICT Mumbai and IIT Bombay
  • Produced a variety of biochar from different feedstock for initial testing

Publications

News

Spinout Companies

Takachar logo

 

 

Co-founded by Kevin Kung before the grant period, Takachar is focused on transforming biomass waste into economically marketable products around the world.. Using a novel concept called oxygen-lean torrefaction, Takachar is simplifying reactor design to enable small-scale, portable, and decentralized biomass conversion that cuts transportation cost by about 30 percent.

Takachar won the first ever Clean our Air Earthshot Prize in 2021. Launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in October 2020, The Earthshot Prize is the most prestigious global environment prize in history.

Safi Organics spelled out as the logo with a leaf as the dot in the i

 



Co-founded by Kevin Kung before the grant period, Safi Organics uses the researchers technology to make fertilizer from crop residue. The fertilizer is proven to increase yields by more than 30% .

The company produces carbon-rich fertilizer that sequesters carbon into the soil for hundreds of years. Their conversion process also curbs the particulate emissions from traditional open-field crop residue burning by more than 95%.

Additional Details

Impact Areas

  • Water
  • Food
  • Climate & Sustainability

Research Themes

  • Technology & Commercialization
  • Sustainability & Adaptation
  • Soil Fertility & Crop Productivity
  • Transforming Food Systems
  • Equity & Access

Year Funded

  • 2018

Grant Type

  • India Grant

Status

  • Completed