NC Farm Center Receives Award to Test Biochar

 Bio Char Final Report - View Report

 Bio Char Final Report - Appendice 1 - View Appendice

 Bio Char Final Report - Appendice 2 - View Appendice

 Bio Char Final Report - Appendice 3 - View Appendice

 Bio Char Final Report - Appendice 4 - View Appendice

 Bio Char Final Report - Appendice 5 - View Appendice

Agricultural Biochar: The Next Steps

The three year trial in agricultural biochar conducted by the North Carolina Farm Center for Innovation and Sustainability is finished. As you read the final report you will note some of our surprises and challenges.

But the consensus of everyone involved in this project is that biochar as an agricultural soil amendment has a bright future—and may be the driver that brings the biochar industry of clean energy, carbon sequestration and conservation into the common nomenclature of the marketplace.

The next and very important step is to take lessons learned in the sandy soils of North Carolina and translate them into a national initiative that can be regionalized to local soils. If the beneficial impact of agricultural biochar on crops in larger field trial is not pursued it would be a disservice to farmers, conservationists and taxpayers.

Equally exciting, however, are the opportunities agricultural biochar offers in conservation and sustainable practices and agricultural entrepreneurship. Going forward biochar has implications that include:

• the relationship between agricultural biochar and microbial soil (qauntum) application to increase crop yield.
• the entrepreneurial challenge to develop cost effective and efficient 'economies of scale biochar equipment.
• the remediation effect of field biochar application to reduce nutrient run-off and water pollution.
• the determination of the value of agricultural biochar in the developing carbon markets.

Climate, water, food security and carbon are moving once again into discussions that will determine national policies. Agricultural biochar has a place in each of these arenas.

The North Carolina Farm Center for Innovation and Sustainability feels privileged and honored to have had the opportunity to have participated in these trials and in doing so have opened the door to finding solutions to issues critical to us all.

Sharon Valentine, CEO/President
NC Farm Center for Innovation and Sustainability