The International Biochar Initiative (IBI)

Monday, September 8, 2008: Conference Day 1

8:00 am – 7:00 pm:       NEWCASTLE CIVIC CENTRE

                                    Conference Registration and Materials Distribution

9:00 am – 9:20 am:       Welcome to Conference, Meeting Overview (COUNCIL CHAMBER)

                                    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)

9:20 am – 10:00 am:     Keynote Address (COUNCIL CHAMBER)

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

10:00 am - 10:30 am:    Break and networking opportunity (BANQUETING HALL)

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

(COUNCIL CHAMBER)

Chair:                      J. Fournier, Biochar Energy Corporation 

Keynote Speaker:    S. Czernik, National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Fundamentals of Charcoal Production

Session Speakers:  

K.C. Das: Biorefining and Carbon Cycling – Research on Biochar co-production with Biofuels

C. Copeland: 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

D. Goenadi: Production of Bio-Char from Oil Palm Nutshells in Indonesia

12:20 am – 1:30 pm:     Lunch (BANQUETING HALL)

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

(COUNCIL CHAMBER)

Chair:                      J. Pignatello, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Keynote Speaker:    M. Hayes, University of Limerick: Biochar and it’s Characterisations

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 (BANQUETING HALL)

3:30 pm – 7:00 pm:       Technical Poster Session (BANQUETING HALL; refreshments)

6:30 pm:                       Poster Award Ceremony

Tuesday, September 9, 2008: Conference Day 2

7:00 am – 5:00 pm:       NEWCASTLE CIVIC CENTRE

                                    Conference Registration and Materials Distribution

8:00 am – 9:50 am:       Technical Plenary Session 3: Biochar Amendments to Soils (COUNCIL CHAMBER)

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 (BANQUETING HALL)

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

(COUNCIL CHAMBER)

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

                              P. Read: The Central Role of Biochar in Managing Climate Risk

11:45 pm – 12:45 pm:   Lunch (BANQUETING HALL)

12:45 am – 12:50 pm:   Welcome (COUNCIL CHAMBER)

                                    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

                              L. Humphreys, Ignite Energy

                              R. Chrisman, BEST Energies

                              N. Foidl, DESA

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm:       Break and Networking Opportunity (BANQUETING HALL)

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm:       Panel Discussion - The Biochar Future (COUNCIL CHAMBER)

                                    Chair: J. Reynolds, North East Energy Leadership Council

Panel:

T. Flannery, Macquarie University

D. Zaelke, Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD)

M. Kibblewhite, Cranfield University

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

(CURTIS AUDITORIUM, NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY)

7:30 – 11:00 pm:           Gala Dinner

(ST JAMES PARK, NEWCASTLE UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB)

Wednesday, September 10, 2008: Conference Day 3

8:00 am – 1:00 pm:       NEWCASTLE CIVIC CENTRE

                                    Conference Registration and Materials Distribution

9:00 am – 10:30 am:     Parallel Discussion Sessions 1 - Policy and Research Priorities (NEWCASTLE CIVIC CENTRE)

Session A: Biochar Carbon Accounting and Market Trading

                                    (DEVONSHIRE BUILDING, NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY)

                                    Chair: J. Gaunt, GY Associates

                                    Rapporteur: D. Reed, International Biochar Initiative

                                    Session B: Risk Assessment

                                    (PANDON ROOM, CIVIC CENTRE)

                                    Chair: S. Robinson, Reading University

                                    Rapporteur: E. Baum, Clean Air Task Force

                                    Session C: Biochar Science and Research Priorities

                                    (COUNCIL CHAMBER)

Chair: M. Schmidt, University Zόrich

                                    Rapporteur: J. Lehmann, Cornell University

10:30 am – 11:00 am:   Break and Networking Opportunity (BANQUETING HALL)

11:00 am – 12:00 pm:   Report from Sessions and Discussion (COUNCIL CHAMBER)

                                    Chair: D.A.C. Manning, Newcastle University

12:00 pm –1:00 pm:      Lunch (BANQUETING HALL)

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

(NEWCASTLE CIVIC CENTRE)

Session D: Biochar and bioenergy from purpose-grown crops and waste feedstocks/waste management

(COUNCIL CHAMBER)

                                    Chair: L. van Zwieten, NSW Department of Primary Industries

                                    Rapporteur: E. Lopez-Capel, Newcastle University

                                    Session E: Developing country biochar systems

                                    (DEVONSHIRE BUILDING, NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY)

                                    Chair: S. Joseph, University of New South Wales

                                    Rapporteur: T. Tomlinson, International Biochar Initiative

                                    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 (BANQUETING HALL)

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm:       Report from Sessions and Discussion (COUNCIL CHAMBER)

                                    Chair: D.A.C. Manning, Newcastle University

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

(COUNCIL CHAMBER)

                                    Chair: D. Reed, International Biochar Initiative

7:30 – 9:30 pm:             Dinner and close of meeting (BANQUETING HALL)