Biomass Asia Conference 2013 on 20-22 May, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Please note the following further announcement from Biomass-SP conference plans...
"Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the EU-Malaysia Biomass Sustainable Production Initiative (Biomass-SP), we are pleased to announce the Biomass Asia Conference 2013 on 20-22 May 2013 at Sunway Putra Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Building on the success of the inaugural EU-Asia Biomass Best Practices & Business Partnering Conference held in 2012, with over 600 participants from 29 countries and more than 80 speakers (Read all about it HERE), this dynamic event will unite industry professionals from all sectors of biomass value chain – bioenergy, bio-based products, agriculture, and high value chemicals – with special focus on Asia and Europe.

This year, Biomass-SP will jointly organize the Biomass Conference Asia 2013 with the Malaysia Biomass Industries Confederation (MBIC), the national biomass association representing biomass industry players in Malaysia. It is truly a one-stop networking opportunity for biomass professionals including current and future producers of bioenergy and bio-based products with biomass traders, technology providers, equipment manufacturers, investors, researchers and policy-makers.

We are pleased to extend you the invitation to submit your speaking interest at the 2013 Conference.

In addition to our annual focus on biomass as energy, bio-chemicals, bio-based products and agriculture, the Conference this year will also highlight new and emerging areas, among others:
· Updates on financing & government initiatives for biomass commercialisation
· Solid waste as potential biomass feedstock
· Commercialisation of biochar
· Managing risks and supply chain in biomass projects

All sessions will be conducted in English; and each session will run in 30-45 minutes.

Speakers will be entitled to enjoy privileged fees to attend the Conference and its associated events. If you are interested in speaking at this Conference, please indicate your interest to participate by submitted the attached Speaker Interest Form via e-mail (info@biomass-sp.net) no later than 8 March 2013.

We look forward to your participation!
Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
NURHIDAYATI ABD AZIZ
Conference Secretariat
Biomass Asia Conference 2013

20 Jalan Diplomatik, Presint Diplomatik
62050 Putrajaya
T: 03-8884 8922 F: 03-8884 8838"

Brochure & Speaker Interest Form can be found here...
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/52700813/Call%20for%20Papers%20Brochure.pdf
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/52700813/Speaker%20Interest%20Form.doc

Biochar article on AntariaNews feed from Indonesia

Biochar makes the new in Indonesia in connection with UNDP work... not sure how much (in)justice Goolge-translate has done. Thanks to Victoria Kamsler, Chief Research Officer at Katerva for finding this...

"Biochar" Mengolah Sampah Menjadi Berkah
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http://sulteng.antaranews.com/berita/6621/biochar-mengolah-sampah-menjadi-berkah?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&goback=.gde_2446475_member_216923187&langpair=id|en&hl=en&ie=UTF8

Radio interview in NZ on biochar

Late last year, I participated in a radio discussion on biochar in New Zealand. Hopefully, the link below will work for outside of NZ...

http://www.greenplanetfm.com/members/greenradio/blog/VIEW/00000001/00000221/Biochar-advocates-Graham-Smith-and-Trevor-Richardson.html#00000221

Malaysian biochar conferences - update

There are now three conferences in quick succession that include biochar related tracks or sessions. Biomass-SP have found it necessary to shift the date of their Seminar on Commercialization of Sustainable Biochar from March to April. This seminar is targeted to Malaysian SME's but due to strong regional interest, they have now introduced a biochar track to their annual conference and provided the following announcement...
“We regretfully inform that the Seminar on Commercialization of Sustainable Biochar is intended specifically for selected Malaysian Biomass SMEs under the EU-Malaysia Biomass Entrepreneurs Nurturing Program (EUM-BENP), which is a flagship project under Biomass-SP. However, given unexpected interest in our seminar, we have decided to dedicate a special track to Biochar at our upcoming annual Biomass Asia Conference 2013, which will be taking place on the 20 - 22 of May 2013 in Kuala Lumpur. We believe this conference would be a more suitable platform for our international participants as it focuses on regional biomass / biochar developments, and we gladly invite presentations and participation from interested parties.”

They have provided the following information on BAC 2013

• Tentative Programme https://dl.dropbox.com/u/52700813/Tentative%20Programme%20-%20Biomass%20Asia%20Conference%202012.pdf
• Speaker Interest Form https://dl.dropbox.com/u/52700813/Speaker%20Interest%20Form%20-%20BAC%202013.doc

The new (still tentative) dates for the Seminar on Commercialization of Sustainable Biochar are 18 and 19 April. This will overlap with the Soils 2013 conference but should allow attendance at both the Soils biochar track (Session 3) and the seminar in KL. So, in summary,

• Soils 2013: 16-18 April (Session 3 - Biochar and Biofertilizers)
• Commercialization of Sustainable Biochar: 18-19 April (new tentative dates)
• Biomass Asia Conference: 20-22 May (biochar track penciled in)

150 Gasifier cookstove - update

I've posted previously about Paul Olivier's work in Vietnam on cook stoves. He has produced a new and very informative presentation on his work which can be downloaded from here...
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/Paper/Presentations/Gasification.pptx

Its a large file (12MB) but worth the download effort. My previous post on his work is here...
http://sea-biochar.blogspot.com/2012/03/biomass-gasification-and-benefits-of.html

Biochar and 'Future Farming' group

Lloyd Helferty has set up a new Linkedin group with links to Asia...

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar-production/message/1140

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Future-Farming-4815612