Report of
FNCA 2009 Workshop on Biofertilizer Project

Following the agreement at the 10^th Coordinators Meeting 2009 in Tokyo, Japan, the FNCA 2009 Workshop on Biofertilizer Project took place as follows;

Participants of the Workshop

Dr. Somporn Chongkum

The Workshop began with opening remarks by Dr. Somporn Chongkum, Exective Director, Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT). And Dr. Manthana Milne, Director of Agricultural Production, Science Research and Development office, Department of Agriculture (DOA), delivered welcoming speech and express warm welcome to all participants. Following the all participants were introduced, Mr. Takashi Tadokoro, Special Staff, International Nuclear and Fusion Energy Affairs Division, Research and Development Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), gave a speech and thanked to DOA and TINT for their hospitality and arranging this workshop.

Dr. Sueo Machi, FNCA Coordinator of Japan, gave a presentation for FNCA activities. He previewed 11 FNCA projects and plan for 2009. And Dr. Achara Nuntagij, the Project Leader of Thailand (PL), gave a presentation and introduced biofertilizer research in Thailand. Then Dr. Tadashi Yokoyama, PL of Japan gave a presentation and previewed the FNCA Biofertilizer Project.

The scene of Opening Session

Dr. Manthana Milne

Mr. Takashi Tadokoro

Open Seminar & Special Lecture
The open seminar was held on the first day of the workshop, with the lectures from universities, research institutes in Thailand. And 3 special lectures about biofertilizer researches in Thailand were presented by 3 experts as follows;

Open Lecture
  Lecture 1 Roles of Nuclear Techniques for sustainable Agriculture
   Dr. Sueo Machi, FNCA Coordinator of Japan, Former DDG, IAEA
  Lecture 2 Biofertilizer Application to Reduce Chemical Fertilizer in Thailand
   Prof. Supamard Panichsakpatana, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University (KU)
   Dr. Sompong Meunchang, Department of Agriculture (DOA)
  Lecture 3 Mutation Breeding for Sustainable Agriculture
   Dr. Siranut Lamseejan, Kasetsart University (KU)
  Lecture 4 Research Activities to Develop Sustainable Agriculture in Japan
   Dr. Shotaro Ando, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO)

Special Lecture
  Lecture 1 Mycorhiza Biofertilizer
   Ms. Supaporn Thamsurakul, Department of Agriculture (DOA)
  Lecture 2 PGPR Biofertilizer
   Dr. Sompong Meunchang, Department of Agriculture (DOA)
  Lecture 3 Phosphate Biofertilizer
   Ms. Bhavana Likhananont, Department of Agriculture (DOA)

Lecturers from Thaialnd

Country Report, and Project Plan & Challenges
A total of 8 country reports were presented. All counties reported research summaries for development of multi-functional biofertilizer for 2007-2009, and introduced research plan for 2010-2011, and 4 issues for the project are discussed as follows;

1)	Strategy to extend the application of radiation processing for production of inoculants in commercial scale
2)	Plan to develop and to extend the application of multi-functional biofertilizer
3)	Strategy for strengthening linkage with end-users of bio-fertilizer, such as agricultural ministry, farmers union, and fertilizer producers
4)	Major remaining challenges to be tackled by the FNCA cooperation to achieve the project goal

Then project review for 2007-2009 and project plan for 2010-2011 were summarized by all participants as follows;

1.	Concerning carrier sterilization using radiation, we have several data. However the suitable dose of irradiation changed by the carrier material and the actual dose to several carrier is not fixed. Therefore we need further test of sterilization by irradiation of different carriers in comparison with autoclaiving.
2.	Multi-functional biofertilizer which have multi-effects on the growth, nutrition uptake of plant as well as reduction of plant disease, should be further investigated. We need further study to produce mix-culture or single culture with multi-functions.

General Discussion and Minutes

The joint statement of FNCA Biofertilizer Project group was suggested by Dr. Machi, and all participants discussed and agreed with it. News letters of FNCA biofertilizer project will be published about actuall stand of biofertilizer research and development in all FNCA member countries and will be continued by the FNCA secretariat. The next workshop will be held in China in 2010. The minutes and conclusions were discussed and agreed by all participants. This will be reported at the Eleventh Coordinators Meeting to be held in 2010, in Japan.

Technical Visit

1. Department of Agriculture

At first, the participants visited laboratory of soil microorganism research group and it's inoculant producing factory of Department of Agriculture (DOA) and received explanations about their research activities. They also visit to the test field of DOA, the scale is 36ha, and they inoculated with PGPR1 to flavor rice, then directly sawing to paddy fields. Growth rate of rice is very good with both effects of antagonistic to plant pathogens and of plant nutrition supplying. We fund a candidate of novel multifunctional biofertilizer having effects of antagonistic and PGPR.

2. Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT)

At the Thai Irradiation Center (TIC) of Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), the participants received an explanation from Dr. Pravait Keawchoung, plant manager, and observed the gamma irradiation facility. At the TIC, food irradiation is conducted for governmental agency and private agency.

Minutes of
FNCA 2009 Workshop on Biofertilizer Project

Opening Session
Dr. Somporn Chongkum, Exective Director, Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), delivered welcoming remark to open the workshop officially. And Dr. Manthana Milne, Director of Agricultural Production, Science Research and Development office, Department of Agriculture (DOA), delivered welcoming speech and express warm welcome to all participants. Following the all participants were introduced, Mr. Tadokoro gave a speech and thanked to DOA and TINT for their hospitality and arranging this workshop. Participants list of the workshop is attached as Annex 2.
Dr. Sueo Machi, FNCA Coordinator of Japan, gave a presentation for FNCA activities. He previewed 11 FNCA projects and plan for 2009. And Dr. Achara Nuntagij, the Project Leader of Thailand, gave a presentation and introduced biofertilizer research in Thailand. Then Dr. Tadashi Yokoyama gave a presentation and previewed the FNCA Biofertilizer Project.

Session 1: Open Seminar
The open seminar was held on the first day of the workshop, with the lectures from universities, research institutes in Thailand. The summary of open seminar is attached as Annex 3.

Session 2: Special Lecture
3 special lectures about biofertilizer research in Thailand were presented by 3 expert from DOA.
At first, Ms. Supaporn Thamsurakul gave a presentation about mycorhiza biofertilizer research, and introduced that A-M Inoculum has been used for many crops such as maize, sorghum rubber and fruit tree. It reduces chemical fertilizers by 20-50% and the farmers get net profit by up to 57%. In 2008, in Thailand as much as 5 tons mycorhiza was produced.
Secondly, Dr. Sompong gave a presentation about PGPR biofertilizer research, and introduced that PGPR consists bio-fertilizer, plant growth regulator, bio-control or antagonist. It helps plant to get nutrients for many plants such as maize, rice and other plants. There are Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Beijerinkia (N2 fixing bacteria), produce siderophore, increase root growth. In 2008 in Thailand about 5 tons PGPR was produced. The increase of yield was in the range of 10-30%.
Thirdly, Ms. Bhavana Likhananont gave a presentation about phosphate biofertilizer research, and introduced that the Ministry of Agriculture of Thailand released two phosphate fertilizers officially in 2007. Yield increase was observed between 22.6%-30% for soybean, corn, rice, sugar cane and other crops. Carriers used were compost, filter cake, peat and can be stored for three months.

Session 3: Country Report
A total of 8 country reports were presented. All counties reported research summaries for development of multi-functional biofertilizer for 2007-2009, and introduced research plan for 2010-2011. The summaries of the country reports are attached as Annex 4.

Session 4: Project Plan and Challenges
The 4 issues for the project are discussed as follows.

I. Strategy to extend the application of radiation processing for production of inoculants in commercial scale It has been realized by FNCA researchers that sterilization of carriers by irradiation produces good quality biofertilizer. The proposed strategy to extend the application of radiation processing for production of inoculants in commercial scale are; 1. Provide more information about the irradiation facilities, advantages, procedure, services, cost etc of the irradiation to the users, such as bio-fertilizer producers, research institutions and universities. 2. The dissemination information should be done in well planned and financed program. 3. National Atomic Energy Agency from each country and FNCA could take more a role in dissemination such as provide New Letter, website and mailing list. II. Plan to develop and to extend the application of multi-functional biofertilizer Dr. Masataka Aino introduced about the experimental results of both success and failure to find multi-functional biofertilizer. Participants preferred to find individual microbes that had more than two functions for the biofertilizer, and agreed that they had better do experiments of competition and synergism among microbes in vitro in advance before field tests. They will make efforts to find adequate way of fertilizer administration that is to inoculate individual per package or all together per package or other alternatives. Dr. Machi informed that it is necessary and promising to study the combination of biofertilizer and oligo-chitosan which has been developed by FNCA radiation processing project. III. Strategy for strengthening linkage with end-users of bio-fertilizer, such as agricultural ministry, farmers union, and fertilizer producers Strong support from the government is necessay for the progress and continued acceptance of biofertilizer in each country for sustainable agriculture development. The government has a role in ensuring biofertilizer products meet the international standards through effective regulation and monitoring mechanisms. The producers have a responsibility to produce high quality products that will be well accepted by the end users, through extension work from the agricultural department and support from the farmers union or cooperatives. IV. Major remaining challenges to be tackled by the FNCA cooperation to achieve the project goal All members have their own biofertilizers produced and these are used by their farmers. The important point to be considered here is the quality of biofertilizers that is being catered to the farmers. The group with the leadership of Dr. Iswandi Anas agreed to develop a FNCA manual for quality standard of biofertilizers. Effective collaboration and information sharing within the FNCA project leaders is very necessary to meet this challenge. The manual could be used as reference in the regulation of biofertilizer in each country.

Session 5: Project Review for 2007-2009 and Project Plan for 2010-2011
Dr. Tadashi Yokoyama, Project Leader of Japan delivered a lead speech and all participants discussed about project review for 2007-2009 and project plan for 2010-2011 as follows;

1.	Concerning carrier sterilization using radiation, we have several data. However the suitable dose of irradiation changed by the carrier material and the actual dose to several carrier is not fixed. Therefore we need further test of sterilization by irradiation of different carriers in comparison with autoclaiving.
2.	Multi-functional biofertilizer which have multi-effects on the growth, nutrition uptake of plant as well as reduction of plant disease, should be further investigated. We need further study to produce mix-culture or single culture with multi-functions.

Session 6: General Discussion and Minutes
At first, the joint statement of FNCA Biofertilizer Project group was suggested by Dr. Machi, and all participants discussed and agreed with it, as Annex 5. News letters of FNCA biofertilizer project will be published about actuall stand of biofertilizer research and development in all FNCA member countries and will be continued by the FNCA secretariat. The next workshop will be held in China in 2010. The minutes and conclusions were discussed and agreed by all participants. This will be reported at the Eleventh Coordinators Meeting to be held in 2010, in Japan.

3) Technical visit

1. Department of Agriculture At first, the participants visited laboratory of soil microorganism research group and it's inoculant producing factory of Department of Agriculture (DOA) and received explanations about their research activities. They also visit to the test field of DOA, the scale is 36ha, and they inoculated with PGPR1 to flavor rice, then directly sawing to paddy fields. Growth rate of rice is very good with both effects of antagonistic to plant pathogens and of plant nutrition supplying. We fund a candidate of novel multifunctional biofertilizer having effects of antagonistic and PGPR. 2. Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) At the Thai Irradiation Center (TIC) of Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), the participants received an explanation from Dr. Pravait Keawchoung, plant manager, and observed the gamma irradiation facility. At the TIC, food irradiation is conducted for governmental agency and private agency.

4) Attachments

   Annex 1:   Program
   Annex 2:   List of Participants
   Annex 3:   Summary of Open Seminar
   Annex 4:   Session Summary
   Annex 5:   Joint Statement of FNCA Biofertilizer Project Group
 

Program of
FNCA 2009 Workshop on Biofertilizer Project
"Multifunctional Biofertilizer for Sustainable Agriculture"

List of Participants
FNCA 2009 Workshop on Biofertilizer Project

Local Pariticpants