POSCO International and IESGA launch biochar soil carbon project in Indonesia

POSCO International and the International ESG Association (IESGA) signed an MoU on 23 June 2026 to evaluate biochar's carbon reduction potential in large-scale commercial agriculture. The joint initiative targets palm plantations operated by PT Prime Agri Resources Tbk in Indonesia, recently acquired by POSCO. Led by IESGA presidents Professor Yong Sik Ok and Professor Jay Hyuk Rhee, the project aims to establish field-level metrics for soil carbon storage. This research seeks to validate academic biochar applications on a massive commercial scale within the international agricultural sector. The project will establish a 'Carbon Mapping' system to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and baseline carbon levels, identifying optimal zones for biochar application from local agricultural by-products.