The 4th International Conference on Valorization of Agricultural Residues: Solutions Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture in Southeast Asia

 The 4th International Conference on Valorization of Agricultural Residues: Solutions Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture in Southeast Asia

The 4th international conference on "Valorization of Agricultural Residues Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture in South-East Asia,"  was successfully held at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) on September 19, 2024. The event was co-organized by the Technical University of Berlin (TUB). The conference provided a platform for Vietnamese and international experts to exchange knowledge, aiming to develop efficient and sustainable organic waste management methods tailored to local contexts.

The conference focused on three main themes: Biomass Resources and Bioenergy; Sustainable Technologies; and Environmental Impact Assessment and Management.

Agricultural waste, primarily composed of starch and lignocellulose from plants and protein-rich components, is often discarded into the environment or directly burned, wasting valuable natural resources and causing environmental harm. Effective agricultural waste management needs to be adapted to geographic, climatic, cultural, and technical requirements. A climate-smart agricultural approach enables agricultural systems to adapt efficiently to climate change while also effectively managing waste. Biogas filtration technology, which converts organic waste into energy and circulate sulfur, is a prominent solution that not only reduces emissions but also promotes sustainable resource use.
This conference was part of the Vietnam-Germany S-IRCLE research project (Circular Biogas Technology – Smart Filtering Systems for H₂S Removal and Sulfur Recycling). The project aims to develop an automated filtration system to remove H₂S in small-scale biogas plants and recycle sulfur from the filtering materials into fertilizers. Additionally, the project evaluates the environmental impact of this new biogas filtration system compared to existing methods.

The conference was attended by various experts, scientists, and Ph.D candidates  come from Technical University of Berlin, Technical University of Dortmund, Herbst Umwelttechnik GmbH company (Germany), University of Hiroshima, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, University of Da Nang, University of Thai Nguyen, Vietnam Livestock Association,  Egreen JSC. (Vietnam).
Opening the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Dang Chinh emphasized the crucial role of agriculture in Vietnam’s economic growth, accounting for 12% of the GDP in 2022. He also highlighted the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture and affirmed that utilizing agricultural residues is a promising solution, though it still faces technological and economic challenges. HUST, with its leading academic staff, has made significant contributions to the government’s science, technology, and innovation policies. In 2022, the university was upgraded to a multidisciplinary research institution. The newly established School of Chemical and Life Sciences focuses on fields like food technology, biotechnology, and sustainable development. His speech concluded with a word of gratitude to the co-organizers and stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the conference.

Following Assoc. Prof. Chinh, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet delivered a speech expressing her gratitude to the scientists, experts, and staff involved in the conference. She stressed the importance of feedback and discussions in refining the research outcomes of the S-IRCLE project, as the project nears its conclusion by the end of this year.

The conference also featured online presentations from experts such as Prof. Vera Susanne Rotter, Mr. Marcel Spahr, and Hoang Trang, who presented research on H₂S treatment in biogas plants and the use of post-filter materials as fertilizers for crops. Her presentation received in-depth questions and discussions from Assoc. Prof. La The Vinh and considerable interest from audiences.

The conference continued with numerous presentations from experts and scientists across related fields, offering valuable knowledge and practical solutions. The event concluded successfully with many fruitful contributions and discussions.
Below are some images of presentations from the conference:

Prof. Nguyen Xuan Thinh presented on "Digital Twins and AI Methods for Climate Change Adaptation and Climate-Smart Agriculture."

Ms. Liwah Wong delivered research on "Urban-Rural Material Cycles: Material Flow Analysis and Stakeholder Analysis of Circular Agricultural Economy and Future Implementation."

Dr. Duong Manh Cuong from Thai Nguyen University presented research on "Effects of Biochar in Biogas Production and Mitigation of Corrosive Gases in Batch and Continuous Anaerobic Digestion."

Dr. Pham Kim Cuong presented an "Overview of Livestock Waste in Vietnam and Treatment Technologies."

Dr. Nguyen Thuy Chung from the School of Chemical and Life Sciences at HUST presented on the "Synthesis of Modified Biochar from Coconut Fiber for Effective Heavy Metal Removal in Contaminated Water."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai Anh from Hiroshima University presented on "Surface Reconstruction Enabling C₃N₄ Nano-Sheet/SnS₂ Heterostructure for Ultra-Fast Visible Light Photodegradation of Acetaminophen."

 

Dr. Vo Thi Le Ha from HUST presented a "Study on Determining the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Pig Farming Waste Management Systems in Thai Binh - Case Study in Thai Thuy and Vu Thu Districts."

- Dr. Dang Duc Long from the University of Da Nang presented research on "Circular Economy Approaches to Rice Straw Management in Vietnam: Biochar Production and Application for Sustainable Agriculture."

Ms. Hoang Thi Hong Van presented on "Evaluation of the Potential for Refuse-Derived Recovery from Landfill Mining."