The Opportunity

Rice straw is one of the most abundant agricultural residues globally. Each year hundreds of millions of tons are produced across Asia, yet much of this biomass remains unused.

Instead of treating rice straw as agricultural waste, it can be transformed into a strategic resource for renewable energy systems, circular materials and bio-based industrial supply chains.

The bioTRANSCAPE initiative explores how agricultural residues can be integrated into circular biomass platforms combining renewable gas production, biorefinery processing and advanced materials manufacturing.

Why Thailand ?

A Strategic Location for Circular Biomass and Bioeconomy Development in Southeast Asia

Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s major agricultural economies and a significant producer of rice and other biomass resources. Large volumes of agricultural residues are generated every year across the country’s farming landscapes.

At the same time, Thailand has been actively promoting renewable energy, circular economy policies and sustainable agricultural development. These conditions create a strong foundation for exploring circular biomass platforms that connect agricultural resources with renewable energy systems and bio-based industries.

The bioTRANSCAPE initiative explores how Thailand can serve as a regional demonstration environment for circular bioeconomy systems based on agricultural biomass.

Abundant Agricultural Biomass Resources

Thailand is among the world’s major rice-producing countries, generating substantial quantities of rice straw every year as a by-product of rice farming.

In addition to rice straw, Thailand also produces a variety of other agricultural residues including cassava processing residues, sugarcane residues and livestock manure. These biomass streams provide diverse feedstocks that can support renewable energy production and bio-based industrial processes.

The availability of these agricultural residues creates an opportunity to develop circular biomass supply chains that transform underutilised biomass into valuable resources.

Strong Agricultural Landscape

Thailand’s agricultural landscape is characterised by extensive rice farming regions supported by irrigation systems and rural infrastructure. These landscapes provide suitable conditions for establishing regional biomass collection networks and decentralised biomass processing hubs.

By connecting farmers, biomass logistics systems and processing infrastructure, agricultural residues can be integrated into circular biomass platforms.

Emerging Renewable Energy Systems

Thailand has been expanding its renewable energy sector, including solar energy, biomass power and biogas systems. These developments provide a foundation for further exploration of renewable gas systems such as biomethane production from agricultural biomass.

Renewable gas infrastructure can complement existing renewable energy systems while supporting the transition toward low-carbon energy solutions.

Gateway to Southeast Asian Bioeconomy

Thailand’s geographic location and industrial capabilities position the country as an important gateway to Southeast Asia. The region contains some of the largest agricultural biomass resources in the world.

Developing circular biomass platforms in Thailand may help demonstrate how agricultural residues can support renewable energy systems and bio-based industries across broader regional supply chains.

Potential for International Collaboration

The development of circular biomass platforms requires collaboration across agriculture, renewable energy systems and industrial processing technologies.

Thailand’s openness to international partnerships creates opportunities for cooperation with global technology providers, research institutions and circular bioeconomy initiatives.

Through such collaboration, agricultural residues can be transformed into renewable energy carriers and bio-based materials within emerging circular bioeconomy systems.

Why Rice Straw ?

A Large Untapped Biomass Resource for Circular Bioeconomy Systems

Rice straw is one of the most abundant agricultural residues in the world. Across Asia, hundreds of millions of tons of rice straw are produced every year as a by-product of rice farming.

Despite this large biomass resource, rice straw is often underutilised or burned in agricultural fields. This represents both an environmental challenge and an untapped opportunity for circular bioeconomy systems.

The bioTRANSCAPE initiative explores how rice straw can become a valuable feedstock for renewable energy, biochemical production and advanced bio-based materials.

Industrial Biomass Potential

Rice straw contains several components with industrial value, including:

• cellulose and hemicellulose suitable for biochemical processing
• lignin and carbon suitable for advanced carbon materials
• silica suitable for specialty materials used in rubber, filtration and advanced manufacturing

These characteristics make rice straw a promising feedstock for integrated biomass utilization pathways.

Biomass Resource

Rice straw is produced in large quantities across Southeast Asia. While traditionally considered a low-value residue, rice straw contains valuable industrial components including cellulose, lignin and silica.

These components can be processed into a wide range of energy and material products.

Biomethane Production

Agricultural residues can be converted into renewable biomethane through anaerobic digestion.

Rice straw can be combined with complementary substrates such as:

cassava processing residues
livestock manure
agricultural organic wastes

Biomethane produced through this process can supply renewable gas systems for transport, industry and energy infrastructure.

Circular Nutrient Flows

Digestate generated from biomethane production can be returned to agricultural soils as organic fertiliser, helping improve soil fertility and nutrient cycling.

This circular approach supports both renewable energy production and soil regeneration.

Biochemical Extraction

Rice straw contains biochemical compounds such as phenolics, fibres and other organic molecules that can be extracted through biorefinery processes.

These compounds can be used in food, feed and industrial applications.

Carbon Materials

Through thermal processing such as pyrolysis and activation, rice straw can be converted into carbon-based materials including activated carbon used in filtration, environmental treatment and industrial processes.

Silica Materials

Rice straw naturally contains silica which can be recovered from biomass ash.

Purified silica can be used in industrial applications such as:

rubber additives
battery materials
specialty materials for advanced manufacturing

Renewable Biomethane

Rice straw can be converted into renewable gas through anaerobic digestion systems when combined with complementary organic substrates such as cassava processing residues or livestock manure.

Upgraded biomethane can be used for:

• renewable transport fuels
• industrial energy supply
• gas grid integration

Renewable gas systems can play an important role in the transition toward low-carbon energy infrastructure.

Biochemical Products

Rice straw contains cellulose and hemicellulose that can be processed through biorefinery technologies to produce biochemical compounds.

Potential products include:

• bio-based industrial ingredients
• natural polymers
• fermentation feedstocks

Such materials can support the development of sustainable chemical and bio-based product industries.

Carbon-Based Materials

Through thermal processing such as pyrolysis and activation, rice straw can be converted into carbon-based materials.

Examples include:

• activated carbon for filtration systems
• carbon materials for environmental applications
• advanced carbon materials for industrial processes

These materials are widely used in water treatment, air purification and industrial filtration systems.

Silica-Based Materials

Rice straw naturally contains silica that can be recovered through controlled thermal and chemical processing.

Purified silica derived from rice straw can be used in:

• rubber and tyre industries
• specialty materials manufacturing
• advanced industrial applications

Rice straw therefore represents a potential source of bio-based silica materials.

Cascading Biomass Utilisation

The combination of renewable energy production, biochemical extraction and materials processing enables cascading biomass utilisation.

In such systems, agricultural residues are used across multiple value streams, maximising resource efficiency and supporting circular bioeconomy development.

Regional Biomass Hubs

The initial development phase focuses on establishing regional biomass hubs that collect and process agricultural residues such as rice straw.

These hubs function as local infrastructure nodes connecting farmers, biomass logistics and renewable energy production systems.

Each hub may process approximately:

100,000 – 300,000 tons of biomass per year.

Regional Circular Biomass Networks

As multiple biomass hubs are established within agricultural regions, they can form interconnected regional biomass networks.

These networks enable coordinated biomass supply chains, shared processing infrastructure and integrated renewable energy systems.

Such regional systems improve biomass logistics efficiency and strengthen rural circular bioeconomy ecosystems.

Industrial Bioeconomy Clusters

Over time, regional biomass platforms may evolve into industrial bioeconomy clusters that integrate:

renewable biomethane production
biorefinery processing
advanced bio-based materials manufacturing

These clusters can process more than:

1 million tons of biomass annually.

Such industrial systems demonstrate how agricultural residues can support emerging circular bioeconomy industries while strengthening rural economies.

The bioTRANSCAPE initiative aims to explore how agricultural biomass resources can support the development of scalable circular bioeconomy systems linking agriculture, renewable energy and bio-based industries.

Reduction of Agricultural Burning

Open burning of rice straw remains a major environmental challenge in many rice-producing regions. Converting rice straw into renewable energy and industrial materials can significantly reduce the need for agricultural residue burning, helping improve air quality and reduce particulate emissions.

By establishing regional biomass collection systems, agricultural residues can be redirected from waste streams into productive circular bioeconomy pathways.

Renewable Energy Production

Through anaerobic digestion and biomethane upgrading, agricultural biomass can be transformed into renewable gas suitable for transport, industrial energy systems and energy infrastructure.

Renewable biomethane can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels while supporting the development of low-carbon energy systems.

Circular Biomass Utilisation

The bioTRANSCAPE platform is designed around the concept of cascading biomass utilisation, where agricultural residues are used across multiple value streams including renewable energy, biochemical extraction and advanced materials production.

This integrated approach maximises resource efficiency while reducing biomass waste.

Soil Regeneration and Nutrient Recycling

Digestate produced from biomethane systems can be returned to agricultural soils as organic fertiliser, improving soil fertility and nutrient cycling.

This supports the transition toward regenerative agricultural practices and strengthens long-term soil productivity.

Contribution to Climate and Circular Economy Goals

By integrating renewable energy production, circular materials processing and sustainable agricultural practices, the bioTRANSCAPE platform contributes to broader climate and circular economy objectives.

Such systems demonstrate how agricultural landscapes can become part of future renewable energy and bio-based industrial systems.

International Technology Collaboration

The development of circular biomass platforms requires collaboration across multiple technology areas including renewable gas systems, biomass biorefinery technologies and advanced materials processing.

International cooperation with European innovation ecosystems, including Dutch technology partners, may support feasibility development and technology exchange.

Technology Areas

Potential areas of collaboration include:

biomethane and renewable gas systems
biomass biorefinery processes
advanced bio-based materials development

Feasibility Development

The initiative currently explores feasibility development for regional biomass platforms that integrate renewable gas production, circular materials processing and agricultural biomass supply chains.

International Cooperation

Guidance from organisations such as the Netherlands Enterprise Agency may help identify relevant programmes supporting feasibility development and collaboration with Dutch innovation partners.

Renewable Biomethane and Biogas Systems

Companies active in the development of anaerobic digestion systems, biomethane upgrading technologies and renewable gas infrastructure include:

• HoSt Group – engineering and technology provider specialising in large-scale anaerobic digestion, biogas upgrading and renewable gas systems.

• WELTEC BIOPOWER – developer of agricultural biogas and biomethane plants with modular digester technologies.

• DMT Environmental Technology – provider of biogas purification and membrane-based biomethane upgrading technologies.

Biomass Biorefinery and Renewable Chemistry

Companies involved in biomass conversion technologies and bio-based chemical production include:

• Avantium – developer of renewable chemistry and biomass conversion technologies for bio-based materials and chemicals.

• Clariant – provider of biomass processing and biochemical conversion technologies used in bio-based industrial applications.

• Borregaard – global biorefinery company specialising in the conversion of biomass into specialty biochemical products.

Advanced Bio-based Materials

Companies active in advanced materials derived from carbon and mineral resources include:

• Toray Industries – developer of advanced carbon materials including carbon fiber and high-performance materials.

• Tokai Carbon – manufacturer of carbon materials and activated carbon used in industrial and environmental applications.

• Evonik Industries – specialty chemicals company with expertise in silica materials and advanced industrial materials.