About Us

IBI Mission

The mission of the IBI is to promote the development of biochar systems that follow Cradle to Cradle sustainability guidelines.

In pursuit of this we shall:

• Support the generation, review and dissemination of information on all aspects of biochar
• Develop sustainability guidelines and monitor and evaluate biochar projects and systems against these guidelines
  

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Sustainable biochar is one of the few technologies that is relatively inexpensive, widely applicable, and quickly scalable. IBI focuses on the need for quality and sustainability standards and assurances in the emerging biochar industry. IBI encourages and seeks to foster good industry practices to ensure public confidence that the organizations involved in biochar research, marketing, and production adhere to high ethical standards and the products they produce are safe and appropriate for use as intended. To this end, IBI is bringing together stakeholders in working groups to produce sustainability standards and classification and evaluation systems for biochar production and use. 

2011 Year in Review

2011 Database Transition Summary

2010 Year in Review

2009 Year in Review

2010 Board of Directors Vision Document

2015 Vision

IBI supports the commercialization of sustainable biochar systems at all scales by 2015 that will:

Help solve the global food security crisis and ensure soil security with the use of biochar to: 

• enhance soil fertility and crop and agroforestry productivity;
• raise the fertility of degraded and marginal soils; and
• enhance mitigation and adaptation to climate change in agricultural systems.

Help solve the global climate change crisis with the use of biochar to:

• safely and effectively draw down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in stable soil sinks;
• alleviate GHG emissions associated with decomposition of waste from urban and rural sources; and
• offset fossil fuel use through high value bioenergy and bio-products.

Help make agricultural production at all scales more sustainable by:

• Maintaining production with lower chemical fertilizer inputs;
• More productively recycling agricultural and organic waste materials, and aid in land remediation; and
• Enhancing water quality by reducing nutrient leaching into water bodies and supplies.

IBI History

The International Biochar Initiative (IBI) was formed in July 2006 at a side meeting held at the World Soil Science Congress (WSSC) in Philadelphia, PA. At the 2006 meeting, individuals and representatives from academic institutions, commercial ventures, investment bankers, non-governmental organizations, federal agency representatives, and the policy arena from around the world acknowledged a common interest in promoting the research, development, demonstration, deployment (RDD&D) and commercialization of the promising technology of biochar production.

The first international biochar conference was organized and held in New South Wales, Australia, in April/May 2007, and attracted the participation of 107 attendees from 13 countries, representing a spectrum of backgrounds. By unanimous consent at the 2007 Conference, the International Biochar Initiative was established as a non-profit 501(c)3 in the US.**

In 2008, the second international conference, "Biochar, Sustainability and Security in a Changing Climate" was held at the Newcastle Civic Center in Newcastle, United Kingdom. The conference had over 225 attendees from 31 different countries with over 70 presentations.

IBI 2010, the third international conference, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 12 - 15, with 85 oral and 85 poster presentations and approximately 200 attendees.

More information about the IBI board, advisory committee, and staff.

**The 2007 conference was held under the name International Agrichar Initiative (IAI). A unanimous decision to change the organization's name was made at this conference, and a subsequent poll resulted in the new name, International Biochar Initiative (IBI).