en.Wedoany.com Reported - The International ESG Association (IESGA) and POSCO International signed a memorandum of understanding on June 23, 2026, at POSCO Center in Seoul to jointly study the "Soil as an Asset" model and assess the carbon reduction potential of biochar in large-scale palm plantations.

The value of soil as a long-term carbon sink is gaining attention as industries accelerate greenhouse gas reduction efforts. The signing ceremony was attended by POSCO International President and CEO Kye-In Lee and other senior executives, along with Professor Yong Sik Ok, President of the International ESG Association and Director of the Korea Biochar Research Center at Korea University, and Professor Jay Hyuk Rhee, President of the International ESG Association and Director of the Korea University ESG Institute.

The joint research will focus on plantations operated by Indonesian palm company PT.PAR (Prime Agri Resources), aiming to build a "carbon mapping" system that quantifies carbon storage capacity and greenhouse gas emission characteristics based on soil properties, while assessing the application of the carbon-rich material biochar. Biochar has recently gained recognition for its ability to store carbon in soil over the long term. The two collaborating organizations will conduct soil analysis to create carbon maps, identify optimal areas for biochar application, and advance demonstration projects to evaluate carbon reduction effects, expand application scope, and explore potential connections with carbon credit businesses.

This project marks a large-scale field demonstration of biochar-based carbon reduction technology in Korean-invested palm plantations. While the group develops low-carbon steelmaking technologies, POSCO International is supporting carbon reduction targets by expanding renewable energy and biomass utilization projects. The project will be led by IESGA, co-chaired by Professor Ok and Professor Rhee, covering complementary expertise in environmental science, biochar-based carbon sequestration, ESG, and sustainable business. Professor Ok stated that the essence of future ESG management lies in creating nature-based value. Soil is one of the largest carbon pools, and depending on management practices, it can become either an emission source or a carbon sink. This project is an important demonstration study that transforms soil into an asset by scientifically measuring and managing soil carbon and utilizing biochar. Professor Rhee emphasized that this collaboration is a benchmark case where research on soil carbon and biochar is validated at a commercial scale and successfully translated into actionable industrial solutions. We are fully committed to ensuring this initiative takes root and becomes a resilient global business mechanism driving tangible climate action. Mr. Oh Ji-Heon, Board Director and Attorney at ONE Law Partners, noted that this collaboration demonstrates the transformation of ESG into practical solutions, integrating legal and business frameworks to deliver measurable climate value.