Biochar

Background - Biochar

   *
     improve the Earth’s soils;
   *
     help mitigate the anthropogenic greenhouse effect by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering atmospheric carbon in a stable soil carbon pool; and
   *
     improve water quality by retaining agrochemicals. 

The IBI also promotes:

   *
     sustainable co-production of clean energy and other bio-based products as part of the biochar process;
   *
     efficient biomass utilization in developing country agriculture; and
   *
     cost-effective utilization of urban, agricultural and forest co products.  

Wikipedia entry on Biochar

The Biochar Economy

(image from Flickr user visionshare by CC license)

Biochar in the OSE context

soil amelioration, degraded land, reduced need for fertilizers increased productivity efficient use of biomass waste for energy generation

reduced need for land = reduced startup costs for a global village

biochar and charcoal: need charcoal anyway for other purposes, e.g. metal smelting, so might as well build a kiln

Links

Wikipedia entry on Biochar

International Biochar Initiative (IBI)[1]

Biochar Fund [2]