Thailand FTA opens up further Asian markets for BiobiN ... - NASAA

Friday 15 th July, 2004
MEDIA RELEASE
Thailand FTA opens up further Asian markets for
BiobiN® Technologies
Peter Wadewitz, NASAA Director, and Managing Director of Peats Soil based in
Willunga, is moving strongly into Thailand and other Asian markets with his
patented technology BiobiN®, an in-vessel composting system used to collect
putrescible green waste.
While BiobiN® is already currently being exported to Thailand, it is hoped that the
development of strong trade relations between the two nations, through the
recent signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), will facilitate further market
demand.
Peter identified a potential market for BiobiN® to supply Thailand’s food industry
following the advent of the avian flu virus.
“We initially went into Thailand with the intention to sell in to the chicken
industry, and while this will happen, the food waste recycling was of much
interest, and that is where we have started” says Peter.
“Whilst current methods of waste management are not to our standards, the
Thais are very interested and passionate in improving their methods, and BiobiN®
can be a part of this solution” he says.
Peter recently met the Thailand Prime Minister and various cabinet ministers in
Melbourne, following the signing of the FTA in Canberra.
“The level of importance placed on the signing of the FTA, by both governments,
signals a growing seriousness about increasing the current level of trade between
the two countries”, says Peter.
Whilst BiobiN® is currently exported to Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, South
Africa and New Zealand, this accounts for just 2% of Peats annual turnover.
Expectations are, however, that this will increase to around 20% with the
assistance of further FTA’s in key markets.
“I foresee a huge opportunity for Australia, in developing markets for sustainable
products, and sustainable management practices, not just in Thailand, but
throughout Asia”, says Peter.
Peat’s Soil Helping to Grow Olympics Trees
A group of four Chinese engineers made a visit to Willunga recently to gain advice
and assistance with the growing of trees in time for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
The group initially approached Peats Soil to purchase a quantity of potting soil
(two containers), however, soon realised that with a requirement to make a
massive 50,000 m3 of compost for the planting of trees for the Games, they

would need to learn to make better compost in China. An initial visit to China to
assess the situation and subsequent training carried out by Peats, will enable the
group to develop a better solution in time for the Olympics.
Lynda Jang, Senior Consultant with INDEC Consulting, who facilitated the visit by
Chinese company CAS Environmental Engineering, said the skills learnt in
Willunga would have long term benefits in China.
Professor Li, who is the Managing Director of CAS, and Director of the Institute of
Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academic and Sciences Ministry of Water
Resources, was also in the country and commented that the training that they
had received in Australia would assist their future programs and add to the local
knowledge in China.
“The recent visit from the Chinese group reinforces Australia’s position as a world
leader in soil science, with the exporting of local expertise a growing business”,
says Peter.
Contacts
Peter Wadewitz
Managing Director
Peats Soil BiobiN® Technologies
Director NASAA
Contact: (08) 8556 5295
BiobiN® Technologies at a Glance
BIOBIN® Technologies in 2003 commenced and established a series of
partnerships with compost providers, engineering manufacturers, scientific
research organisations, and distribution re-sellers that has enabled the company
to deploy their patented BiobiN® world wide organic composting solutions to
companies, government agencies, and the farm industries.
BiobiN® is an in-vessel composting system that is used to collect putrescible
green waste from many sources. It has now been used at various trial sites,
expanding from just greengrocer waste to becoming an effective vessel for the
collection and disposal of Putrescible Food Waste.
Managing Director of BiobiN® Technologies, Peter Wadewitz is also the Managing
Director of Peats Soil based at Willunga in South Australia.
Peter has provided consultancy services on waste management to major
organisations including SANTOS, Southcorp, AusBulk, Coles and a number of local
council groups. He currently holds a position on the Barton Group Export Task
Force, and previously held a position on the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering
and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) and is Chairperson of Compost Australia and
Compost South Australia.
Peats products are accredited by the Australian Standards Organisation for
compost manufacturers, and include a range of conventional and NASAA certified
organic soil mixes and mulches.