What We Do
Sri Lanka was chosen to demonstrate Biomass Group’s business model, by leveraging the country’s abundant biomass resources from Gliricidia trees. This is an agro-energy program that combines Food AND Sustainable Fuel AND Livelihood Development.
Through Biomass Supplies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Biomass Group, we directly source biomass feedstock through our outgrower model supply chain which includes smallholder farmers, plantations, the Catholic Church, and Buddhist temples etc. We maintain positive, long-term relationships with our suppliers as they are the center of our operations.
We generate millions of tons of commercial biomass – without owning a single parcel of land or mono-cultivation.
We encourage small holder farmers, plantations and other supply partners to plant a triple fence of Gliricidia around their land as well as intercropping it with existing cash crops. Growing Gliricidia provides an additional source of income for our registered farmers, from the harvested branches. Enhanced soil fertility and soil carbon from Gliricidia increases yields. Simultaneously we educate farmers in the use of Gliricidia leaves as a replacement for inorganic chemical fertilizer, pesticide and fungicide, providing them immediate saving on agrochemical expenditure. We have organized over 700 training programs where we share knowledge on the manifold benefits of planting Gliricidia.
We have built trust and a strong relationship in these communities through the years. Biomass Group field officers and Women Village coordinators are training and registering more smallholder farmers, securing our supply of Gliricidia biomass and expanding the territory of farmers receiving benefits.
Our partnership with smallholder farmers and plantations doesn’t just give us access to millions of tons of biomass feedstock that can be harvested per year, it also transforms livelihoods in rural communities in Sri Lanka delivering on 6 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Our partnership with smallholder farmers and plantations doesn’t just give us access to millions of tons of biomass feedstock that can be harvested per year, it also transforms livelihoods in rural communities in Sri Lanka delivering on 6 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Biomass Supplies began operations in Sri Lanka in March 2013. Our head office is located in Colombo with a regional office in Puttalam and a series of collection centers being established across Sri Lanka.
Since 2013, Biomass Supplies have been capacity building, forging connections and experimenting with grassroots level deliveries to local industries. The trees our outgrower suppliers planted in 2016 were ready for harvest in 2019. Since 2019 we have been expanding our client list for Phase 1 in delivering to local industry. Phase 2 of pellet manufacture and export will commence 2022 onward.
