Digital Commons Network^™

Wrap Up & Where To From Here, Kathleen Draper, Hugh Mclaughlin, Erich J. Knight Mr., Amanda Ravenhill

USBI Biochar Conferences

Symposium Track Chairs will provide high level summaries of the information covered in each of the tracks: Feedstock & Production; Benefits & Uses; Policy & Community and Sales, Scale & Marketing.

To conclude the symposium and leverage all of the great new ideas and information in everyone's minds, we will capture key take aways as a community and then invite suggestions and discussion about next steps in the biochar movement.

Synergistic Communities For Biochar, Albert Bates, Jonathan Bates, Peter Hirst

USBI Biochar Conferences

Biochar & Permaculture: Albert Bates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afaKoWXsRiU

Biochar & Aquaponics: Jonathan Bates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c21drA2KS4

Jonathan will present his experience using biochar as a powerful growing medium in aquaponic systems. Aquaponics being the culturing of fish and plants together ecologically in closed systems (the merging of aquaculture and hydroponics). Biochar grow media benefits aquaponic systems in multiple ways, including its light weight, local sourcing, bio-chemical qualities, ecological nature, and affordable price. Through pictures and discussion he will show how his experiment has faired, and offer ideas for economic opportunities of aquaponic biochar in the Northeast.

Biochar & the Klamath Hydro Settlement: Peter Hirst …

Manure Management & Biochar, Matthew W. Smith, John Miedema, Mike Mcgolden

USBI Biochar Conferences

Co-location synergies: Biomethane & Biochar Production: John Medeima, BioLogical Carbon

Biochar Filters Impact on Anaerobic Digestion: Matthew Smith, WSU

http://youtu.be/RILS6wS3qWk

The Benefits of a Manure-based Biochar: Mike McGolden

http://youtu.be/t1hVgolalRI

Biochar has been in existence for thousands of years. However, it has only been in the past decade that there has been a resurgence in the thirst for knowledge about biochar and research into how it is made and its impact on the environment.

This resurgence has brought about a tremendous amount of research and a rapid growth in education among the general population about biochar – especially in the past …

Wednesday Morning Plenary, Doris Hamill, Tom Miles

USBI Biochar Conferences

Tom Miles will kick off the "Where to From Here" conversation that is critical to understanding next steps for the biochar industry in North America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCIu8QEQUkk

Doris Hamill will describe the K-12 biochar educational package she and her team launched at NASA, where it has taken off and where it may land. She will also share details about her project for using biochar in the redevelopment project on the Hampton Roads campus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx_7w1-bJ8A

Biochar Community Development, Ronal G. Larson, Jim Long, Scott Graves

USBI Biochar Conferences

Growing a Biochar Learning Network in a Rural Community: Jim Long

The presentation will review what we are learning about the effectiveness of our several-year, voluntary journey to introduce biochar to residents using a variety of techniques including:

• Orientations with members of our Umpqua Bio-Alternatives Cooperative and its Biochar Study Group;
• Articles published in newsletters and on web pages produced by related groups;
• Exhibits at farmers' markets, county weed days, and Earth Day;
• Live demonstrations with farmers, community gardeners, Grange members, school students, and Job Corps youth;
• Exhibits, demonstrations, and discussions during our annual fall Biochar Exposition with members of …

Why Is Charcoal So Effective For Plant Growth?, Makoto Ogawa

USBI Biochar Conferences

No abstract provided.

Pre-Soil Techniques, Nigel Gale, Dale Hendricks, Doug Clayton

USBI Biochar Conferences

Rescuing biochar: Pre - application techniques to enhance plant responses to biochar additions: Nigel Gale, U of Toronto

A growing body of literature indicates variable responses of different plant species to biochar, including positive, neutral, and negative, suggesting that it is important to investigate the nature and mechanism of species-specific responses to biochar additions. Neutral or negative plant responses to additions of biochars have commonly been reported in prior studies, and are likely the result of a combination of changes in soil properties (e.g. pH, surface area, and nutrient and water retention) and the production of volatile organic compounds from …

Labeling Biochar Products, Kelpie Wilson, David Yarrow, Renel Anderson

USBI Biochar Conferences

Making Claims for Biochar: Kelpie Wilson

Cool Foods: David Yarrow, KAW Valley Biochar

OMRI Certification: Renel Anderson, Black Owl Biochar

Novel Uses Of Biochar, Hans-Peter Schmidt

USBI Biochar Conferences

Cascading Uses of Biochar - Hans-Peter Schmidt, Ithaka Institute

In addition to the use of biochar as a soil amendment, there are an increasing number of ways to incorporate biochar into different eco- and industrial systems. Thus feeding biochar to livestock has numerous benefits not only for the animals, but it also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improves nutrient retention in animal manure. The use of biochar in building materials is just beginning to be studied but shows promise in the ability to insulate, decontaminate air, provide odor and humidity control. Biochar as pillow filling to induce perfectly reposing …

Ethics & Sustainability, Gloria Flora, John Bonitz, Karen Ribeiro

USBI Biochar Conferences

Biochar and the Sustainability Imperative. Now marks a critical time: as biochar comes of age and markets begin to develop, this young industry is attracting naysayers, doubters and get-rich-quick-schemers. Ethical biochar production and use is of paramount importance as we continue to lay the groundwork for biochar as a model for carbon neutral/negative business, landscape restoration and truly green technology. Shortcuts, poor quality product and unsustainable use of biomass could bring biochar to its knees before it gains the traction necessary to fulfill its promises. This discussion will explore opportunities and pitfalls in feedstocks sustainability, production integrity and ethics in …

Remediation/Pollution Control, Makoto Ogawa, Seok-Young Oh, Josh Kearns

USBI Biochar Conferences

Sorptive Treatment of Metals and Nitro Explosives in Water Using Biochar -

Seok-Young Oh^1*,

Biochar, a solid byproduct of a pyrolysis process was investigated as a sorbent to remove toxic metals and nitro explosives from natural water and wastewater. It was hypothesized that biochar can sorb dissolved metals and nitro explosives due to its high surface area and strong sorption affinity of aromatic organic compounds. Using a tube furnace under N₂, various types biochar were synthesized by changing biomass (poultry litter, sludge, fallen leaves, corn stalk, rice straw, and coffee grounds) and temperature (250, 400, …

Monday Morning Plenary, Thayer Tomlinson, Gloria Flora, Kelpie Wilson

USBI Biochar Conferences

State of the Biochar Industry: Thayer Tomlinson, IBI Communications Director

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSByIiudOZI

This presentation will provide an overview of the current state of the biochar industry, including current International Biochar Initiative (IBI) programs and how IBI sees the growth of the biochar field internationally—touching on specific trends in commercialization, project implementation, research, educational facilities, regional groups, etc. The presentation will focus specifically on IBI’s recent industry and project tracking and outreach around the world to highlight where most of the current biochar companies are operating, their products, and other specifics as well as specifics on current operating biochar projects (run mainly …

Farmer Workshop, Rachel Hestrin, David Yarrow, Christian Pulver, Thea Whitman

USBI Biochar Conferences

Sunday afternoon October 13, 2013 from 1:00 to 4pm, at the New England Small Farm Institute in Belchertown MA (275 Jackson Street)

Join fellow farmers and gardeners in an interactive, educational, and highly stimulating presentation/workshop about what biochar is (and is not) along with details about how and why biochar can help you achieve your growing goals. Learn about the many benefits of soil conditioning with biochar, application techniques and amounts, carbon stability, and other practical advice. Rachel Hestrin from Cornell University will deliver a hands on technical presentation and field expert David Yarrow will review his extensive SARE grant …