TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taichung Agricultural Research and Extension Station has developed a process using microbial strains to turn discarded branches into organic fertilizer, promoting sustainable agriculture.

The fertilizer can be used in melon cultivation, reducing the need for chemicals by nearly 80% while also increasing fruit weight by up to 35%, per CNA.

The Ministry of Agriculture institute additionally used microbial strains to speed up the decomposition of discarded grapevine branches, helping return nutrients to the soil. The method increased the weight of individual grape clusters by 15%, improved soil organic matter by 0.27%, and cut fertilizer use by about 33%.

Pruned branches from street trees can also be fermented with microbial strains to produce organic materials, the institute said. When applied to the base of street trees, these materials can help suppress weed growth.

Taiwan produces approximately 250,000 tonnes of discarded branches annually, creating a disposal challenge for farmers. 

In 2018, the government banned open-air burning of agricultural waste, which had been a common disposal method despite each kilogram burned releasing about 1.87 kg of carbon. Leaving the branches piled in fields or burying them on-site can also lead to environmental pollution, pests, and disease issues.

The institute processes around 10,000 tonnes of discarded branches annually, converting them into approximately 2,000 tonnes of organic fertilizer. The product has sold more than 21,000 bags to businesses and local governments.

It added the technology has been licensed to private companies, aiming to promote waste recycling and enhance the value of agricultural production.

In February 2024, National Chung Hsing University partnered with the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency to extract essential oils with a natural herbal scent from waste wood. The leftover wood residue can then be dried and converted into fuel for power generation.