Trong Duc Cacao is a major cocoa in Vietnam that works with farmers in the Dong Nai province, one of Vietnam’s leading cocoa-producing regions.
It has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tromsø to process cocoa shells into biochar and reuse them, paving the way for the full-scale implementation of the project in the future.
Tromsø will supply its proprietary biochar production technology and apply its know-how to transform cocoa shell waste from Trong Duc’s operations.
In recent years, production of cocoa has increased in the Dong Nai Province. As a result, waste shells generated during processing has become a significant challenge for producers.
Trong Duc Cocoa alone produces around 6,000 tonnes of cocoa shells each year, with volumes expected to reach approximately 10,000 tonnes over the next five years.
The lack of effective disposal and reuse solutions has highlighted the need for initiatives that can convert this waste into valuable resources.
With this project, it will provide cocoa shells to use as feedstock to produce biochar.
Waste heat generated during the production process will be reused as a heat source for drying cocoa shells.
This will reduce reliance on fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering production costs and improving operational efficiency.
Long-term circular goals
In the long run, the project aims to establish of a circular agriculture model which would generate agricultural inputs and energy from waste materials.
This aims to boost higher incomes for local farmers while enhancing the brand value of cocoa products from the region.
Nguyen Thi Hoan, Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee expressed strong expectations for the project.
“Collaboration with the advanced technologies of Japanese companies represents a major step towards improving the quality of regional agriculture and supporting the economic development of farmers,” said Nguyen.
Tromsø operates an integrated business model covering biochar production equipment, agricultural application support, chemical analysis and carbon credit development.
Its work with biochar has been done in cooperation with Professor Eiji Nishihara of the Faculty of Agriculture at Tottori University.
According to the firm, it has produced biochar using a variety of raw materials, carbonisation conditions, and particle sizes, and conducted numerous cultivation tests in Japan and abroad.
Its biochar has been used to cultivate a wide range of crops, including rice, peanuts, broccoli, and coffee.
In 2024, it began a project with Lotte, Fuji Oil, MC Agri Alliance, and Olam Food Ingredients to evaluate the effectiveness cocoa shell-derived biochar in improving productivity and sustainability on cocoa farmers.
Tromsø said it hoped to apply knowledge gained from its previous demonstration trials using cocoa shell-derived biochar in cocoa cultivation.
The company said previous trials have shown potential to stabilise and increase cocoa yields, contributing to improved farmer incomes while also reducing environmental impact through carbon sequestration.
