Thailand biochar workshop report

Warm Heart Biochar Workshop - Phrao, Northern Thailand

Here is a link to a short report on the workshop. Please get in touch if you are interested in organising biochar workshops in your area.

Foreground: TFOD trough for bamboo biochar production

IBI Webinar - Biochar Analytical Methods, 27Mar.

International Biochar Initiative – Educational Webinar Series

Biochar Analytical Methods

The soon to be released book “Biochar: A Guide to Analytical Methods” provides procedures and guidelines for biochar characterization as well as backgrounds for the various proposed analytical techniques and procedures.  Dr. Balwant Singh is one of the lead editors for this book and will highlight some of the most useful information from this book including the proper way to obtain biochar samples and a selection of analytical techniques.  He will address proximate & elemental analysis, as well as testing of pH, electrical conductivity, liming potential, and cation exchange capacity.  This webinar will be of interest to biochar producers, researchers, laboratories and more.  An interactive Q&A period will follow Dr. Singh’s presentation. Questions may be submitted before or during the event.

IBI members are eligible for a 20% discount on Biochar: A Guide to Analytical Methods.  IBI Members may use the Promo Code on the IBI Members Only page.

When?             Date: March 27^th, 2017              Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm ET

Cost?               Free to IBI Members or $40 for non-members

Non-Member Registration >> 

IBI Members may register for free using the link which has been emailed to all current IBI Members or is available on the IBI Members Only page.

To renew or join IBI, please go to our Join page. If you have issues joining or renewing, please send an email to: bschorr@ttcorp.com. For other registration-related questions, please send an email to vmedici@ttcorp.com.

Registration includes access to the slides and a recording of the webinar.

Moderator: Kathleen Draper

Kathleen is a member of the IBI Board and Chair of IBI’s Information Hub. She is also the US Director of the Ithaka Institute for Carbon Intelligence. The Institute is an open source network focusing on beneficial carbon sequestration strategies which simultaneously provide economic development opportunities both in the developed and developing world. She is an editor and writer for The Biochar Journal, sponsored by the Ithaka Institute. Kathleen also works with various different universities and individuals on projects that are investigating the use of biochar in cement and other building and packaging products to develop products with lower embodied carbon which can be made from locally available organic waste. She has written extensively about various topics related to biochar and is a co-author of the book “Terra Preta: How the World’s Most Fertile Soil Can Help Reverse Climate Change and Reduce World Hunger”.

Presenter: Dr. Balwant Singh

Dr. Balwant Singh is a Professor of Soil Science in the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.  He is the current Chair of the Soil Mineralogy Commission of the International Union of Soil Sciences and a Councilor of the Association Internationale pour l’Etude des Argiles (AIPEA) and the Clay Mineral Society.  Dr. Singh is joint Editor-in-Chief of the journal Soil Research and an Associate Editor for three other journals.

For More Information

What questions do you have about biochar quality and use? Please send your questions by March 23^rd to webinars@biochar-international.org.

For more information or if you have any questions about registration please email Vera Medici at vmedici@ttcorp.com.

Want to become an IBI member?  Visit our membership page to help support IBI! 

International Biochar Initiative

www.biochar-international.org info@biochar-international.org

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IBI Webinar - 30Jan

​---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: 'Tom Miles' tmiles@trmiles.com [biochar]
Date: 14 January 2017 at 12:12
Subject: [biochar] Save the Date Jan 30 - IBI Webinar on Biochar Classification
To: biochar@yahoogroups.com

SAVE THE DATE: Jan 30th IBI is relaunching our Biochar Webinar series! Registration will be free for IBI Members & $40 for non-members. More details soon!

International Biochar Initiative – Educational Webinar Series

A Classification System for Biochars Applied to Soils

January 30^th, 2017 1:00 – 2:00pm E. T.

On January 30^th at 1pm ET (6PM UTC), the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) is relaunching its biochar education webinar series where you can interact with experts from around the globe about the latest research and developments on biochar, biochar production technologies, biochar business models and market opportunities.

First in the series is a webinar that reviews a biochar classification system aimed at optimizing the sustainable use of biochar in agriculture. This classification system builds upon biochar product definition and testing guidelines developed by IBI (Biochar Classification Tool) and the European Biochar Foundation, as well as including IBI’s methodology for carbon stability. This system enables stakeholders and commercial entities to identify the most suitable biochar to fulfil the requirements for a particular soil and/or land use. The potential effects of biochar in soils have been classified into five categories including: (i) carbon storage value, (ii) fertiliser value, (iii) liming value, (iv) particle-size, and (v) use in soil-less agriculture.

An interactive Q&A period will follow. You may submit your questions directly to the speakers during the event. Submit questions before the event to webinars@biochar-international.org.

When?
Date: January 30, 2017
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET (6:00-7:00 p.m. UTC)

Moderator: Kathleen Draper

Kathleen is a member of the IBI Board and Chair of IBI’s Information Hub.  She is also the US Director of the Ithaka Institute for Carbon Intelligence.  The Institute is an open source network focusing on beneficial carbon sequestration strategies which simultaneously provide economic development opportunities both in the developed and developing world. She is an editor and writer for The Biochar Journal, sponsored by the Ithaka Institute. Kathleen also works with various different universities and individuals on projects that are investigating the use of biochar in cement and other building and packaging products to develop products with lower embodied carbon which can be made from locally available organic waste.  She has written extensively about various topics related to biochar and is a co-author of the book “Terra Preta: How the World’s Most Fertile Soil Can Help Reverse Climate Change and Reduce World Hunger”.

Presenter: Dr. Marta Camps

Marta is Associate Professor of Soil Science at Massey University (New Zealand) and the co-director of the New Zealand Biochar Research Centre. She has been a member of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (2013-2015) and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Biochar Initiative (2011-2015; vice-chair 2014; chair 2015). Marta studied Agricultural Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Lleida, Spain) and then received her MSc and PhD in Soil Science from the University of California, Davis. Previous to working at Massey University, she was a Senior Researcher - “Ramon y Cajal” (2003-2008) at NEIKER (Spain) and lecturer (1999-2003) at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Spain).

 

In support of UASJ

 

Why publish in the UTAR Agriculture Science Journal ?

The UTAR Agriculture Science Journal (UASJ), published four times a year, addresses all aspects of biological production, including crop and animal science, and sustainability issues concerning soil, water, waste, environment and climate. We think sustainable agriculture is dependent on our willingness and ability to appreciate all the different factors that collectively sustain life on earth.

Normal academic journals cater for academic scientists and make limited impact in the world of agriculture. UASJ aims to make maximum impact. Recognizing the energizing power of a good story, we require our authors to make impact through skill in exposition: every article should be informative, interesting and inspiring without mathematical and technical jargon.

UASJ is freely available on the Internet. Anyone with a smart phone or laptop can access its contents. Simultaneously UASJ is produced as a traditional printed journal, so that it can be cited like a printed journal and be used and archived in conventional libraries. The general style and format can be obtained from recent past issues on the UASJ website: http://uasj.utar.edu.my

Tim Flannery interview

How 'Third Way' Technologies Can Help Turn Tide on Climate by Richard Schiffman: Yale Environment 360

Campfire Lessons: Breaking Down the Combustion Process to Understand Biochar Production

This new article from The Biochar Journal is another great introduction to biochar production and application...

By Mark R. Fuchs, M. Garcia-Perez, P. Small and G. Flora

“Campfires were the first step in the evolution of slow pyrolysis reactors. Observing the play of the flames while sitting around a campfire is still one of the best possible lessons to understand the main principles of pyrolysis. Mark Fuchs and colleagues bring the different natural phenomenon of the fire into context of modern pyrolysis.” …

Reviewer comment

Catherine Brewer:
One of the frequent challenges experienced by members of the biochar community is figuring out how to explain biochar and biomass thermochemical processes to friends and family members. The authors’ use of the campfire illustration is so helpful because it is familiar to a wide audience and scientifically accurate at the same time. After hearing this illustration the first time myself, I remember thinking, “I will never again see just a campfire.”

Symphony of the Soil

"The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been nominated to implement the International Year of the Soils (IYS) 2015, within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership and in collaboration with Governments and the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

To help celebrate the International Year of the Soils, we will be streaming the full feature film, Symphony of the Soil, for FREE for the week of December 5 – 12, 2014. You can help us spread the word by linking to or embedding the film on your site with a link to the Symphony of the Soil website and to the International Year of the Soils."
 

Biochar animations from Europe

A couple of new 3min. animations on biochar from ...

which I had not heard of and appears to be a European Development Agency initiative.
Its a pity they don't delve a little deeper into productions methods. The animation implies flash pyrolysis production is THE method of production... a bit misleading IMO. They do cover some of the new ideas for biochar applications such as animal feeds and building materials.

Biochar training course & conference, Nanjing

“Following the success of the first and the second Biochar Training Course, The Biochar and Green Agriculture Center of Nanjing Agriculture University in collaboration with the University of Newcastle and University of NSW of Australia is announcing a third course to be held starting 16th April 2015. China now leads the world in the commercial production of both biochar and biochar technology. It has pioneered the development of combine NPK biochar granulated fertilizers.”

You can find details from this link to the course announcement and conference program.

Deep Down & Dirty - The Science of Soil

This new BBC documentary is a nice look below your feet...

Biochar booth at Hari Organik - Sunday, 27 April

Prof. Robert Bachmann has confirmed that UniKL MICET will be hosting a biochar display and information booth at the upcoming CETDEM 14th Hari Organik in Klang Centro Mall, Kuala Lumpur. This will be an opportunity to introduce the public organic farming community to the production and application of biochar with a focus on organic farming synergies and urban agriculture.  Further details are available from the CETDEM website or https://www.facebook.com/cetdem.org.my

If you are interested in supporting this or future biochar efforts, then please get in touch (febiochar(at)gmail.com or 012 6591430). I note that this is a bi-monthly event so if successful, we could try to repeat in upcoming Hari Organik events (21Jun, SS2 PJ; 23Aug, Bangsar; 18Oct, Melacca).

Biochar Training Course - Nanjing Agricultural University

Announcement; The Third International Biochar Training Course held at Nanjing Agricultural University (NJAU) October 16th 2014

Following the success of the first training course the Biochar and Green Agriculture Centre of Nanjing Agriculture University in Collaboration with the University of Newcastle of Australia and the University of NSW is announcing a second course to be held starting 16th October 2014. China now leads the world in the commercial production of both biochar and biochar technology. It has pioneered the development of combine NPK biochar granulated fertilizers.

Report on the Second International Biochar Training Course held at Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University (ZAFU), Linan, Hangzhou Province, China, organized by Nanjing Agricultural University in collaboration with the University of New South Wales and Newcastle University (Australia), October 2013

Stephen Joseph, Helen Gould and Genxing Pan

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/biochar/conversations/messages/16167

Soil science - a crash course

http://soilcarbon.org.nz/soil-science-a-crash-course/