Bhubaneswar: As a part of its diamond jubilee year celebration, the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar, is hosting a two-day National Workshop on Biochar and Bio-resources on December 14th and 15th, 2023. The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of Chief Guest Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Odisha, along with Dr. Ramanuja Narayan, Director of CSIR-IMMT, and distinguished guests from various sectors, including corporates, industries, startups, and NGOs.
The workshop is a collaborative effort with IBBN, GIZ, and Biochar Crusader, actively supporting initiatives related to Biochar and bio-resource management for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. During his address to the attendees, Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director of CSIR-IMMT, extended a warm welcome to collaborators, sponsors (Gold Sponsor: Sanjivani Agro-Machinery, Nagpur; Silver Sponsor: Circonomy, Singapore), and participants representing diverse organizations across India.
Dr. Narayan shared insights into the recent formation of the Task Force on Biochar utilization under the Ministry of Steels, Government of India, emphasizing the growing scope of research and development towards achieving a carbon-neutral India. Dr. N K Dhal, Chief Scientist, and Dr. Yatendra Singh Chaudhary, CSIR-IMMT CRTDH Coordinator, also expressed their perspectives on the occasion.
Representatives like Mr. Kshitij Urs from IBBN and Mr. R K Mehta from Biochar Crusader presented their work on the Biochar and Bio-resource theme. The workshop encompassed both practical demonstrations and case-study-oriented discussions led by renowned experts from various corporates, industries, and institutes. Participants from diverse backgrounds, including startups, NGOs, and industries, numbering over 100 from Odisha and across India, actively engaged in the workshop. Notably, demonstrations of various Biochar production methods, such as trench, drum, and continuous rotary pyrolysis systems, were conducted for the participants.
