Biochar in Emerging and Developing Economies

The development of biochar systems around the world can be at vastly different scales and uses depending on the feedstock, expected use for the biochar, production technology, local economics, setting. Much of the developing economy country-specific biochar work that IBI is tracking are at the micro scale (biochar cookstoves) to village level systems (smaller scale). There are some larger scale units which can utilize agricultural waste and produce a good soil amendment.

Biochar can be a tool for improving soils and sequestering carbon in soil. However, this technology as any other must be implemented in a way that respects the land rights of indigenous people and supports the health of natural ecosystems. The goal of biochar technology as IBI envisions it is to improve soil fertility and sequester carbon, taking into consideration the full life cycle analysis of the technology. Properly implemented, biochar production and use should serve the interests of local people and protect biodiversity.

Although IBI does not implement or manage any on the ground biochar project, we support biochar research and projects through information exchange, assistance with proposal development and donor matching as applicable, data collection, project publicity, and basic techincal advice. If your project is not highlighted below, please contact Thayer Tomlinson to work on a project profile for publication in our newsletter and our website.

Photo: Farmer's group in Cameroon; courtesy of BiocharFund.org

World Bank Study of Biochar Projects in Developing Countries

IBI and Cornell University are working with the World Bank to identify promising biochar systems in developing countries in order to help direct potential funding for biochar projects. In December 2010, IBI sent out a survey to our network requesting information about developing country projects. We received more than 150 responses from 43 countries. The number and quality of projects has been very impressive. As we move into the next phase of performing Life Cycle Analysis for a few case studies, we are joined by a group of experts that will help guide the inquiry. The group includes: Patricia (Pipa) Elias, Forest Science and Policy Consultant, Union of Concerned Scientists; Sasha Lyutse, Policy Analyst at NRDC's Center for Market Innovation; and Christian Witt, Senior Program Officer, Agricultural Development, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, among others.

The final report will include a Life Cycle Assessment of four biochar projects. The report is scheduled for completion by the end of June 2011 and the World Bank plans to make it available to the public. In May 2011 IBI presented the survey results to the World Bank at a review meeting in Washington DC. Click here for a copy of that presentation.

Highlighted Projects in Developing Economies

Click on any of the links below for a full write up.

• North Vietnam Villages Lead the Way in the Use of Biochar: Building on an Indigenous Knowledge Base
• Using Bamboo for Stoves in Uganda: Julius Turyamwijuka's work with biochar stoves with the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI)
• World Stove's project in Rwanda working with Inyenyari on the LuciaStove
• Using Biochar to Improve Soil Health and Leaf Production at Tea Plantations in Sri Lanka: Dilmah Tea Gardens is using biochar to improve soils
• re:char—Creating Affordable Opportunities for Biochar Production and use in Western Kenya: working with Kenyan organization ACON, re:char is creating local manufacturing opportunities for biochar production units.
• First TLUD Stove Camp in Uganda: Report from the June 2011 Biomass Energy Foundation Stove camp by Dr. Paul Anderson
• A Partnership between form and function: Proyecto Estufa Finca uses local materials to build elegant and sustainable biochar stoves in Costa Rica
• Carbon Gold: Working with Cacao Farmers in Belize to Create a Rotating Biochar Production and Utilization System: Using ring kilns for rotating biochar production to increase cacao tree productivity.
• Developing an Eco-Fertilizer based on Biochar in Chile: A project to produce and test biochar to better utilize nitrogen in Chile.
• Using Improved Cookstoves and Biochar in Western Kenya: African Christian Organization Network (ACON) work in Kenya to improve cooking and farming techniques.
• World Stove: Transforming Haiti and the World: Nathaniel Mulcahy's work to provide biochar-producing stoves and jobs in Haiti.
• Pro-Natura and Garden work in Senegal: Feature on new agricultural work in Senegal including biochar from Voice of America (VOA).
• Smell the Coffee, Not the Smoke: Biochar Stoves on Coffee Farms in Central America: Good coffee and great biochar are a match made in heaven. Especially since one product of that match is a cleaner cook stove for migrant coffee pickers who often have only open fires for cooking.
• Exceptional Results from Biochar Experiment in Cameroon: Chris Goodall's report on the BiocharFund work in Cameroon with biochar used in maize plots.
• 20 Years of Biochar in Costa Rica: IBI board member Stephen Joseph visited a successful biochar compost facility in Costa Rica along with Gabi Soto of the Center for Tropical Agriculture Research and Teaching (CATIE) and other colleagues.
• Pro-Natura: Using Green Charcoal for Sustainable Development: Working with farmers in Senegal to utilize biochar for improved agriculture.
• Developing Biochar Research and Production Capabilities in Ghana: Edward Yeboah's work to bring biochar to the forefront of soil research in Ghana.

IBI's 9 Country Projects

IBI worked with organizations and projects in nine developing economies to help them develop and evaluate cost effective approaches for the widespread introduction of biochar. Click here for more information on this effort.