2008 Conference Agenda and Presentations

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Sunday, September 7, 2008

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm:   NEWCASTLE CIVIC CENTRE
                                    Conference Registration and Materials Distribution

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm:   NEWCASTLE CIVIC CENTRE
                                    Welcome Reception for Conference Participants (Buffet and bar)

Monday, September 8, 2008: Conference Day 1

9:00 am – 9:20 am: Welcome to Conference, Meeting Overview

• D.A.C. Manning, University of Newcastle
• D. Reed, International Biochar Initiative
• J. Lehmann, Cornell University
• S. Joseph, University of New South Wales

9:20 am – 9:30 am: Welcome to Newcastle University

• Prof. P. Younger, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Engagement)

9:30 am – 10:00 am: Keynote Address

• Lord Oxburgh, House of Lords: The Global Significance of Char

10:00 am - 10:30 am: Break and networking opportunity

10:30 am – 12:20 pm: Technical Plenary Session 1: Biochar Production

• Chair: Tom Reed
• Keynote Speaker: S. Czernik, NREL: Fundamentals of Charcoal Production
• Session Speakers:        
  K.C. Das: Biorefining and Carbon Cycling: Research on Biochar co-production with Biofuels
  A. Downie: The role of a scoping study in directing and supporting the establishment of a slow pyrolysis plant in northern NSW, Australia
  K. Frogner: Estimated low-tech biochar production by small-scale diversified farmers for increasing income, for soil improvement, and to contribute to global warming amelioration
  M. Evelein: The potential for atmospheric reductions of CO₂ through biochar in the UK

12:20 am – 1:30 pm: Lunch

1:30 pm – 3:20 pm: Technical Plenary Session 2: Biochar Characterisation

• Chair: J. Pignatello, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
• Keynote Speaker: M. Hayes, University of Limerick: Biochar and it’s Characterisation
• Session Speakers:
  E. Krull: Biochar: is it all (chemically) the same?
  C. Brewer: Engineering Bio-char: Characterization of Chars Derived from Three Thermochemical Processes
  M. Schneider: Developing a quality index based on a molecular marker technique to estimate biochar degradability
  S. Kimber: Characterisation of biochar by cryo-focusing, double-shot Py-GC-MS

3:20 pm – 3:30 pm: Break and networking opportunity

3:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Technical Poster Session

6:30 pm: Poster Award Ceremony

Tuesday, September 9, 2008: Conference Day 2

8:00 am – 9:50 am: Technical Plenary Session 3: Biochar Amendments to Soils

• Chair: A. Cowie, NSW Department of Primary Industries
• Keynote Speaker: S. Haefele, IRRI: Biochar in rice-based Systems: Characteristics and Agronomic Effects
• Session Speakers:
  B. Madari: The potential of biochar as soil amendment for grains production in the Brazilian Cerrado
  J. Wingate: Mechanisms of metal sorption by non-activated charcoals
  J. Kimetu: Biochar stability and stabilization as affected by soil degradation and texture
  S. Sohi: Evaluating mechanisms of organic matter-biochar interactions in soil

9:50 am – 10:15 am: Break and networking opportunity

10:15 am – 11:45 pm: Technical Plenary Session 4 Carbon Trading, and Policy Issues concerning Biochar

• Chair: J. Amonette, Pacific Northwest Laboratory
• Keynote Speaker: B. McCarl, Texas A&M University
• Session Speakers:
  M. Breiter: Additionality: Biochar-Based Carbon Transfers to the Inactive Carbon Pool Foster a Sustainable Carbon Market
  P. Watts: The Commercial Realities of Establishing a Biochar Business
  J. Gaunt: The Central Role of Biochar in Managing Climate

11:45 pm – 12:45 pm: Lunch  

12:45 am – 12:50 pm: Welcome D.A.C. Manning, University of Newcastle

12:50 pm –1:20 pm: Keynote: Urgent actions to include biochar in the "Post 2012" climate change market mechanisms

• L. Gnacadja, Executive Secretary, message delivered by G. Kopolo, Senior Programme Officer, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

1:20 pm –3:00 pm: The Biochar Future: From Science to Practice

• Chair: M. Mason, ClimateCare
• Session Speakers:
  C. Peacocke, Conversion and Resource Evaluation Ltd
  G. Sugiura, International Charcoal Cooperative Association
  P. Toms, Ignite Energy
  R. Chrisman, BEST Energies
  N. Foidl, DESA

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Break and Networking Opportunity

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Panel Discussion - The Biochar Future

• Chair: J. Reynolds, North East Energy Leadership Council
• Panel:
  T. Flannery, Macquarie University
  T. Spencer
  M. Kibblewhite, Cranfield University

5:30 – 6:30 pm: Public Lecture: T. Flannery, Macquarie University

7:30 – 11:00 pm: Gala Dinner

Wednesday, September 10, 2008: Conference Day 3

9:00 am – 10:30 am: Parallel Discussion Sessions 1 - Policy and Research Priorities                                   

• Session A: Biochar Carbon Accounting and Market Trading
  Chair: J. Gaunt, GY Associates, Rapporteur: D. Reed, International Biochar Initiative
• Session B: Risk Assessment
  Chair: S. Robinson, Reading University, Rapporteur: T. Tomlinson, International Biochar Initiative
• Session C: Biochar Science and Research Priorities
  Chair: M. Schmidt, University Zürich, Rapporteur: J. Lehmann, Cornell University

10:30 am – 11:00 am: Break and Networking Opportunity  

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Report from Sessions and Discussion Chair: D.A.C. Manning, Newcastle University

12:00 pm –1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Parallel Discussion Sessions 2 - Implementation

• Session D: Biochar and bioenergy from purpose-grown crops and waste feedstocks/waste management
  Chair: L. van Zwieten, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Rapporteur: E. Lopez-Capel, Newcastle University
• Session E: Developing country biochar systems
  Chair: S. Joseph, University of New South Wales, Rapporteur: E. Baum, Clean Air Task Force
• Session F: Biochar education and extension
  Chair: J. Thies, Cornell University, Rapporteur: J. Major, Cornell University and International Biochar Initiative

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Break and Networking Opportunity

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Report from Sessions and Discussion Chair: D.A.C. Manning, Newcastle University

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Next Steps for the International Biochar Initiative

• Chair: D. Reed, International Biochar Initiative

7:30 – 9:30 pm: Dinner and close of meeting

Detailed Descriptions of the Technical Sessions

Technical Session 1: Biochar production
In this session, issues concerning technological aspects of the production of biochar, at all scales (laboratory, pilot plant, full scale plant, developing country systems, shifting cultivation) and including transportation and application were addressed. The performance of different feedstocks, production conditions and their effects on biochar yields, and where appropriate, energy yields, were considered, together with the testing of pyrolysis products and gaseous emissions during production including health issues.

Technical Session 2: Biochar characterization
This session focused on the detailed characterization of biochars to determine their structure and composition with respect to its application as a soil amendment. The discussion focused on the physical, chemical and biological properties of biochar produced under various pyrolysis/carbonization schemes, as well as characterization of the fundamental structure and composition of biochar.

Technical Session 3: Biochar amendments to soils
This session focused on the scientific basis that underpins the use of biochar as a soil amendment. It presented the results of studies concerning the agronomic benefits of biochar application to soils, plants and microorganisms, work on scientific aspects of the environmental impact of biochar and its stability, and research on changes of biochar in soil including movement by leaching and erosion.

Technical Session 4: Carbon trading, commercialisation, and policy issues concerning biochar
Discussion focused on the big picture issues that surround biochar. This session covered the issues relating to the commercialisation of the technology and sale of biochar, carbon accounting in systems that generate biochar, subsidies, the economics and energy budgets of pyrolysis systems that are integrated with other on-farm, civic or waste management activities, as well as certification and approval by environmental protection agencies. Additionally, this addressed the global contribution that biochar use might have on carbon emissions and atmospheric composition, and how this feeds into policy issues at local, regional, national and international levels.