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Producing Biomass Energy and Material through Revegetation of Alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica) Fields

Environment / Energy (Carbon Neutrality)

Republic of Indonesia

Finished

Producing Biomass Energy and Material through Revegetation of Alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica) Fields

Use advanced technology to turn tropical grassy wasteland into a sustainable biomass treasure trove in harmony with environmental restoration!

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  UMEZAWA Toshiaki
  Resarch Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University
- Dr.
  Andes Hamuraby Rozak
  Head, Research Centre for Plant Conservation, Botanic Gardens, and Forestry - National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Indonesia

Research Institutions in Japan

Kyoto University (Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Graduate School of Agriculture)

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) , Research Center for Plant Conservation, Research Center for Biology, Research Center for Biotechnology, Research Center for Biomaterials

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2015

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

A comprehensive approach spanning restoration of soil to the development of applications for biomass products
Grassland that has emerged in the space left by felled tropical natural forest has been difficult to convert to agricultural or forest land. To address this problem, we aim to comprehensively identify the microorganisms present in the soil environment using the latest genome technology, and to conduct an efficient fertilization process to convert the soil into productive agricultural land and restore/maintain biodiversity. Simultaneously, we aim to develop largesized Poaceae (grass) species with a high lignin content—whose biomass output volume is several times that of tree species—and from these develop and practicalize low environmental impact wood-based material and fuel pellets.

Contribution to environmental preservation and economic development by converting unusable land into sustainable biomass production sites.
We believe that the revegetation and sustainable utilization of grass wasteland in Indonesia will serve as a globally deployable model for converting land devastated by the felling of natural forest into biomass resource/energy production sites, thus preserving the environment. This project also has the potential to bring regional economic development and mutual benefit to both resource-producing and resource-importing nations based on fair and equitable allocation and use of resources.