The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported Biochar as a key technology for reaching low carbon dioxide atmospheric concentration targets. The negative emissions that can be produced by Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) has been estimated by the Royal Society to be equivalent to a 50 to 150 ppm decrease in global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. Annual net emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide could be reduced by a maximum of 1.8 Pg CO2-C equivalent (CO2-Ce) per year (12% of current anthropogenic CO2-Ce emissions; 1 Pg=1 Gt), and total net emissions over the course of a century by 130 Pg CO2-Ce, without endangering food security, habitat or soil conservation. Wikipedia

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Biochar project news

International biochar project news

10 August 2012

Must Watch - Solve for X: Mike Cheiky on negative carbon liquid fuels

Posted in News, Biochar, Energy, Geoengineering, Project, Technology, Video

Must Watch - Solve for X: Mike Cheiky on negative carbon liquid fuels
Talk by Mike Cheiky, President and Founder of CoolPlanet Energy Systems, which is developing carbon negative fuels with Biochar.

19 April 2012

Waste not, want not

Written by Chris Machens, Posted in Biochar, News, Market, Project, Technology

An Oxnard organic recycling company redoes soil enrichment, reduces greenhouse gases

From VC Reporter by Shelby Maloney:
In the race against the clock to find new ways to fight climate change, Agromin, an Oxnard-based organic recycling company, plans to aid in the effort to modernize an ancient soil enhancement technology by developing its own version of a charcoal-like soil amendment known as biochar. Biochar is produced from organic biomass, or plant waste, and is known to have several environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, the act of taking carbon out of the atmosphere.

17 April 2012

How One Startup Sold $6,000 Worth of Charcoal on Kickstarter

Written by Chris Machens, Posted in Biochar, News, Market, Project, Technology, Video

Produce 200% more food every crop season if they mix their soil with specially-designed charcoal

How One Startup Sold $6,000 Worth of Charcoal on Kickstarter
Mashable:
Big Idea: Utilize organic waste to create carbon-negative charcoal, a substance that pulls CO2 from the air and helps crops grow taller and stronger.

Why It’s Working: Re:char’s mission is about providing farmers — both at home and in developing countries such as Kenya — with conservation-oriented soil-boosting complexes that can double food output compared to traditional farming methods.

13 April 2012

1st International Biochar Summer School

Posted in Biochar, News, Howto, Project

Bio:char Crossroads at Potsdam, Germany

1st International Biochar Summer School
Via Cordis Wire:
The multi-talented biochar is one of the world's fastest growing research topics. The 1st International Biochar Summer School “bio:char crossroads”, September 9 to 16, Potsdam 2012, offers excellent young scientists from around the world a valuable means of information exchange and professional development.

07 April 2012

Grow More Food & Fight Climate Change: Black Revolution

Posted in Biochar, News, Climate , Project, Technology, Video

"Biochar is an excellent way of getting a lot of carbon out of the atmosphere."-- Sir Richard Branson

ReChar started a Kickstarter project funding:
Black Revolution is a soilless growth media for plants containing biochar, coconut husk and compost. Biochar is a charcoal soil amendment made from waste that improves nutrient retention, offsets CO2 and has the potential to help feed our growing planet. Black Revolution is the world's first carbon-negative replacement for soil made entirely from waste. It's lighter than traditional soil, so it works great in rooftop or urban environments. The potting soil and chemical fertilizer industries are traditionally some of the most environmentally destructive in the world.

Chemical fertilizers require massive amounts of fossil fuels and pollute our rivers and streams. Potting soils contain peat moss and vermiculite: non-renewable resources mined from endangered areas around the world.

07 April 2012

Increase in U.S. Funding to Drought Relief in the Horn of Africa

Posted in Biochar, News, Policy, Project, Soil, Technology

Address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity by improving agricultural systems in the Horn of Africa under the Feed the Future initiative

Increase in U.S. Funding to Drought Relief in the Horn of Africa
The U.S. State Department announced:
The United States continues to be deeply concerned by the humanitarian emergency in the Horn of Africa, and particularly the hard-hit Somali population. Despite the end of famine conditions in February, nearly 10 million people in the region still require humanitarian assistance. For this reason, the United States Government is providing an additional nearly $50 million in aid for refugees and drought-affected communities in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya in addition to what we have already provided.

29 March 2012

Biochar action T-Shirts

Posted in News, Project

Now with Glow in the Dark effect

You can buy now "Biochar action T-Shirts" with glow in the dark effect. This is a pretty cool idea to spread the message about this high potential soil amendment and to support the Biochar Earth Network!

Available through Europe and United States Spreadshirt (see links below).

29 March 2012

New Soil Reef and Organic Mechanics Blend Creates the Perfect Soil Amendment

Posted in News, Biochar, Biomass, Market, Project, Soil, Technology

One of the most important things a gardener can do to boost crop productivity and reduce the amount of water and fertilizers needed is create rich, porous soil

New Soil Reef and Organic Mechanics Blend Creates the Perfect Soil Amendment
From PR Web: Worm condos. Terra Preta. Black Gold. Whatever it’s called, healthy soil is the most important tool in successful gardening. With the new Soil Reef™ blend being launched this spring, gardeners can create a healthy, organic and permanent home for beneficial organisms living in the soil.

The new blend combines OMRI-listed compost and worm castings from Organic Mechanics® with biochar, adding a unique porous carbon to the soil to create a habitat for life to thrive. How does it work? Soil Reef creates a network of nearly permanent, natural carbon structures throughout your soil, which hold onto water and nutrients, and create homes for microorganisms.
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