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Conference Agenda as of July 2008
 
Click here to download the full agenda

Sunday, September 7, 2008

 

Welcome Reception

 

Monday, September 8, 2008: Conference Day 1

 

Welcome to Conference

 

Keynote Address: Lord Oxburgh, Department of Earth Sciences, Cambridge

 

Technical Plenary Session 1: Biochar Production

·         Keynote Speaker: Stefan Czernik, US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

·         Oral Presentations

o        Craig Copeland: “The Role of a Scoping Study in Directing and Supporting the Establishment of a Slow Pyrolysis Plant in Northern NSW, Australia”

o        K.C. Das: ” Biorefining and Carbon Cycling—Research on Biochar Co-production with Biofuels”

o        Karl J. Frogner: “Low tech Biochar Production by Small Scale Diversified Farmers”

o        Didiek Hadiar Goenadi: “Production of Biochar from Oil Palm Nut-Shells in Indonesia”

 

Technical Plenary Session 2: Biochar Characterization
 

·         Keynote Speaker: Michael Hayes, University of Limerick, Ireland

·         Oral Presentations:

o        Catherine Brewer: “Engineering Biochar: Characterization of Chars Derived from Three Thermo-chemical Processes”

o        Stephen Kimber: “Characterization of Biochar by Cryo-focusing, Double-shot Py-GC-MS”

o        Evelyn Krull: “Biochar: Is it all (Chemically) the Same?”

o        Maximilian Schneider: “Developing a Quality Index based on a Molecular Marker Technique to Estimate Biochar Degradability”

 

Technical Poster Session: Click here for all currently accepted poster presentations (list not yet complete)

 

Gala Dinner

 

 

Tuesday, September 9, 2008: Conference Day 2 

 

Technical Plenary Session 3: Biochar Amendments to Soils

Oral Presentations:

o        Frans deLeii: “Potential of Charcoal for Land Remediation”

o        Stephan Haefele: “Biochar in Rice-based Systems: Characteristics and Agronomic Effects”

o        Joseph Kimetu: “Biochar Stability and Stabilization as Affected by Soil Degradation and Texture”

o        Beata Emoke Madari: “The Potential of Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Grains Production in the Brazilian Cerrado”

 

Technical Plenary Session 4: Carbon Trading, Commercialization, and Policy Issues concerning Biochar

·         Keynote Speaker: Bruce McCarl, Texas A&M University, US

·         Oral Presentations:

o        Mark Breiter: “Additionality: Biochar-Based Carbon Transfers to the Inactive Carbon Pool Foster a Sustainable Carbon Market”

o        Thomas Del Monte: “Global Warming Solution—Carbon-Negative Energy Production, Reforestation Acceleration, Deforestation Deceleration, Desertification Mitigation, and Long-term Increases in Food Production for Impoverished Nations. Are we ready for it?”

o        Peter Read: “The Central Role of Biochar in Managing Climate Risk”

 

Extension Session: The Biochar Future: From Science to Practice
 

Participants Include:

o        Cordner Peacocke, CARE Ltd, UK

o        Len Humphreys, Australian Biodiesel Group, Ltd, Australia

o        Nikolaus Foidl, Farming Consultant, Bolivia

 

Panel Discussion - The Biochar Future

Panelists Include:

o        Tim Flannery, 2007 Australian of the Year; journalist

o        Durwood Zaelke, Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, US

 

Public Lecture: Tim Flannery

 

Gala Dinner

 

 

Wednesday, September 10, 2008: Conference Day 3

 

Parallel Discussion Sessions 1 - Policy and Research Priorities

 

Parallel Discussion Sessions 2 - Implementation

 

Next Steps for the International Biochar Initiative

 

Dinner

 
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 will be addressed.  The performance of different feedstocks, production conditions and their effects on biochar yields, and where appropriate, energy yields, will be considered, together with the testing of pyrolysis products and gaseous emissions during production including health issues.

Technical Session 2: Biochar characterization
This session will focus on the detailed characterization of biochars to determine their structure and composition with respect to its application as a soil amendment.   The discussion will focus 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 focuses on the scientific basis that underpins the use of biochar as a soil amendment.  It will present 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 focuses on the big picture issues that surround biochar.   This session will cover 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 will address 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. 
The International Biochar Initiative.  www.biochar-international.org.