Biochar Workshop

Biochar will take centre stage in Oslo on Friday 26th during a workshop arranged by yours truly and Arvid Solheim of the Norwegian Development Fund.

The objective is to direct focus at this very exciting substance that can contribute to carbon sequestration, soil enrichment and increased productivity as well as serve as a means to build value chains.

Biochar is the subject of many lively debates, but I encourage people to keep their eye on the ball - the the big one - Earth. Photosynthesis harvests CO2 from the atmosphere and produces biomass. Normally the CO2 is released back into the atmosphere when biomass burns or rots. The plan is to take "waste" biomass and use pyrolysis to convert it to biochar, an inert substance that remains stable in the earth for thousands of years. Biochar is porous and hence can act as a "sponge" for water as well as being an excellent habitat for micro-organisms that help produce nutrients that benefit the soil. It also acts as a slow release mechanism for nutrients and moisture.

The plan is not to create giant monoculture plantations, but to use biochar judiciously to improve soil quality and extract CO2 from the atmosphere.