About Us

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

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

2015 Vision

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Our Focus

Sustainable biochar is one of the few climate mitigation and soil enhancement technologies that is relatively inexpensive, widely applicable, and quickly scalable. IBI's focus is to support a growing biochar industry—through material and quality standards, sustainability guidelines, and certification programs for assurance in this emerging industry. IBI encourages and seeks to foster good industry practices to ensure public and regulatory confidence that the organizations involved in biochar research, production and marketing adhere to high ethical standards and the products they produce are safe and appropriate for use as intended. IBI also works to provide clear, non-biased, credible information on all aspects of biochar and to provide a global information and communications platform for collaboration and cross-fertilization.

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. Since the formation of IBI in 2006, we have organized and hosted the following international biochar conferences:

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.

Since its inception, IBI has rapidly established itself as the leading non-profit dedicated to the promotion of biochar research and commercialization. Below are summaries of past IBI activities and achievements.

• 2012 Year in Review
• Presentation on IBI Projects and Programs, July 2012
• 2011 - 2012 Annual Report
• 2011 Year in Review
• 2011 Database Transition Summary
• 2010 Year in Review
• 2009 Year in Review
• 2010 Board of Directors Vision Document

**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).