Community-Based Crop-Residue Management for Open-Burning Prevention, Soil Restoration, and Climate Resilience: The BIO-NO BURN™ Case Study in Thailand

Information from the abstract

Background Open burning remains a low-cost but environmentally damaging method of managing crop residues in Thailand. Community enterprises may provide a locally governed alternative when residue collection, processing, quality control, and evidence systems are designed together. Objective: This case study describes the BIO-NO BURN™ model, its implementation context and management architecture, and the evidence chain used to distinguish documented organizational activity from modelled estimates and future targets. Methods A retrospective descriptive review was conducted using the enterprise’s official performance report, registration and governance records, summarized operational records, and a 2026 project-design package. The case was examined through five evidence domains: organizational setting and geographic scope, implementation process, operational records, investigation/data checks, and documented versus prospective outcomes. Claims were classified as documented activity, modelled estimate, or planned target. No proprietary microbial formula, inoculum ratio, cultivation method, or propagation procedure was examined or disclosed. Results The enterprise reports a 2,500-rai pilot area in fiscal year 2025/2026, adoption of a 100% no-burn policy for that pilot, initiation of GPS/polygon data collection, and a reported 92% per-rai reduction in 46-0-0 fertilizer use relative to its internal project baseline. These results remain self-reported and require reconciliation with plot, purchase, issue, weighbridge, production, and inspection records. The case architecture specifies a six-function operating chain from participant enrolment and residue-source identification through processing, quality control, field application, and review/corrective action. A separate 12-month demonstration is designed for 100 households, approximately 220 rai (35.2 ha), four community compost hubs, 20 demonstration plots, at least 300 tonnes of residue diversion, and at least 180 tonnes of quality-controlled compost; these are prospective targets, not achieved results. Conclusion BIO-NO BURN™ offers a replicable governance and traceability architecture rather than a single technology. Its main contribution is the integration of community no-burn agreements, distributed processing, batch records, field application records, safeguards, and adaptive review. Environmental and greenhouse-gas claims should remain provisional until baselines, activity data, emission factors, leakage assumptions, and independent verification are completed.

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Related topics: Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development · Waste Management and Recycling