We’re excited to share key moments and milestones from the first half of 2025 at the BioResources and Technology (BRT) Division. This edition captures the energy, innovation, and collaboration that continue to define our work in sustainable development.

So far this year, BRT has contributed to international projects with activities spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. We’ve hosted public outreach events, welcomed interns from around the world, shared our research at global conferences, and more. Our members have also taken on new leadership roles and launched new collaborations, strengthening BRT’s impact both locally and globally.

• Day 1–2 (Theory): Covered fundamentals of biochar, types of pyrolysis units (from low-cost to advanced), feedstock potential in Cambodia, and integration with vermicompost. 
• Day 3–5 (Practice): Focused on constructing barrel-type kilns and introducing safe construction plans and handling. This hands-on phase proved to be crucial. 

We are proud to share that BRT Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík has been recognized as a 2024 Top Scholar by ScholarGPS, placing him among the top 0.5% of scholars globally. This prestigious recognition highlights his outstanding research, strong publication record, and the global relevance of his work.

ScholarGPS rankings assess academic excellence across disciplines, based on both lifetime achievements and recent research output. In the “Rural Area” category, Dr. Roubík achieved an impressive #52 global ranking over the past five years - demonstrating his commitment to sustainable development, rural innovation, and applied bioeconomy.

V-BIOCHAR (Vermicompost & Biochar Integration for Climate-Smart Farming) is bringing innovative, low-cost soil improvement methods to small-scale farmers in Cambodia’s Pursat province. The project focuses on integrating two powerful natural soil enhancers — biochar and vermicompost — to restore soil health, improve crop yields, and reduce dependence on imported chemical fertilizers.

Using locally available materials such as rice husks and coconut shells, V-BIOCHAR introduces simple pyrolysis technology to produce biochar, while building on the success of previous vermicomposting initiatives. Farmers receive training in production, marketing, and sustainable land management, with half of all participants expected to be women.

BRT Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík, Dean of the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTZ) at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), has recently returned from a successful academic mobility to Bhutan. The visit was supported by the prestigious Erasmus+ KA171 programme, which promotes international collaboration and capacity building between European and non-European higher education institutions.

Hosted by the College of Science and Technology (CST) and its president Dr. Tshewang Lhendup, and the College of Natural Resources (CNR) under the Royal University of Bhutan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roubík engaged in an intensive academic exchange focusing on sustainable agriculture, bioresource utilization, and rural development. The mobility included expert lectures, curriculum consultations, and strategic discussions aimed at building long-term partnerships between CZU and Bhutanese institutions.