WasteX, which helps farms and agricultural producers utilise biomass waste by converting it into biochar, has secured US$450,000 in funding from P4G Partnerships, an initiative that helps businesses working on climate mitigation and adaptation solutions in food, water, and energy.
WasteX plans to leverage the funding to establish production facilities in strategic locations throughout Indonesia by partnering with local mills and poultry farms. The startup invests, develops, and operates the facilities while the mills provide biomass that is converted into biochar.
A significant portion of the biochar will be distributed for free to local farmers, alongside training programmes to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate biochar into their agricultural practices effectively.
Robyn McGuckin, Executive Director at 7 P4G, said, “Small and medium enterprises are engines of growth for many economies and need catalytic capital to overcome the valley of death. WasteX delivers not only long-term positive impact to smallholder farmers but also does so in a way that contributes to Indonesia’s priorities around enhancing food security and reducing emissions.”
Also Read: WasteX helps poultry farms improve productivity, achieve sustainability with biochar solution
WasteX provides an end-to-end solution to farms and agricultural producers, helping them utilise biomass waste by converting it into biochar and then applying it in their operations for operational, financial, and environmental benefits. Its mission extends beyond immediate benefits to farmers.
At the centre of WasteX’s biochar technology is its proprietary small-scale and semi-automated carboniser equipped with a unique dual-action burner. WasteX utilises both biomass fuel and captured syngas produced during biomass pyrolysis, enhancing energy efficiency. Furthermore, by recapturing and reutilising syngas for heat generation used in biochar production, WasteX minimises the potential for methane.
Recently, WasteX deployed two biochar facilities. The first was at a rice mill in Tarlac, the Philippines, in November 2023. Biochar produced at the facility will be distributed and applied to the farms within the mill’s extensive network in the next planting cycle, with two goals in mind: to support local rice production and foster long-term sustainability by encouraging younger generations to embrace the agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, WasteX has partnered with a corn mill in Pasuruan, East Java, to develop a larger-scale biochar facility, with the production launched in February 2024. Currently the company is manufacturing its equipment for multiple local and international clients as well as continues developing more partner facilities in Indonesia.
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Image credit: WasteX
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