Biochar

- mitigating climate change and improving soil quality

NGI and partners aim at investigating the potential of biochar produced from organic waste to sequester carbon and improve soil quality and therefore livelihoods. Through this work a very relevant win-win can be obtained; mitigation of climate change and simultaneously improving soil fertility.

NGI currently has biochar initiatives in Zambia and Indonesia/Malaysia. The Zambia initiative is financed by Norad and the Zambian Conservation Farming Unit, while the Indonesia/Malaysia project is financed by the Norwegian Research Council.

Biochar projects

Zambia

Potential for biochar to sequester carbon and improve soil quality in weathered/ acidic Zambians soils.

Malaysia/Indonesia

Social, agricultural and environmental effects of biochar use.

Norway and abroad

Mechanisms of biochar's potential to sequester carbon, improve soil quality and chemically remediate polluted soils.

News

Promising results in a three-in-one project

Date: 1/19/2012

Aftenposten (Norwegian news artcle): Norwegian scientists reveal promising results in a three-in-one project which aid people out of poverty, reduce climate gas emission and deforestration.
Biochar conservation Zambia - End report Phase 1

Date: 11/7/2011

The end report for phase 1, Improving crop yield and storing carbon, for the project Biochar in conservation farming in Zambia is now available.