The project concerns BioChar (BC), which is a product of biomass-to-energy processing systems, and has as its aim in raising awareness and building confidence in BC as a way of capturing carbon and increasing soil quality and stability. In order to keep up with international competition it is mandatory to develop and compile a transnational NSR knowledge base which can be utilized by national and regional authorities, businesses and the general public.
Climate change in the North Sea Region is predicted to have a pronounced effect on annual rainfall patterns. Soils, rich in organic matter and biological life, function both as a water buffer during periods of drought and as drainage during periods of heavy rains. Biochar creates a triple win scenario for simultaneously producing bio-energy, permanently sequestering carbon, while increasing crop yields by improving soil and water quality.
Duration
01/10/2009 - 01/10/2013
Priority
2 - Promoting the Sustainable Management of our Environment
Area of Intervention
2.3 Adapting to and reducing risks posed to society and nature by a changing climate
EV Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research
Denmark
Riso DTU National Laboratory for sustainable energy
Norway
BioForsk Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research
Sweden
Uppsala University, Department Eardt Sciences, LUVAL
The Netherlands
Provincie Groningen
Productschap Akkerbouw
Nutrient Management Institute
Alterra B.V.
Germany
HAWK, Hochschule fur Angewandte Wissenschaft Und Kunst
United Kingdom
University of Edinburgh
Background and Aim
Aim The aim of the project is to develop, implement and disseminate the Biochar-strategy in the North Sea Region (NSR) for climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation by increasing soil quality and stability with soil BioChar (BC)amendments. This project has three clear targets (workpackages): 1. Implementation of biochar knowledge dissemination strategies for authorities, producers and end-users of biochar 2. Transnational development and compilation of knowledge base and methodological standards 3. Transnational development and compilation of knowledge base and methodological standards on Biochar applications.
Background BC is a product of thermal biomass-to-energy processing systems and is a way of capturing carbon, making the soil climate change resilient and producing bio-energy. The BC knowledge within the NSR is scarce and scattered and in order to keep up with international competition it is mandatory to develop and compile a transnational NSR knowledge base which can be utilized by national and regional authorities, businesses and the general public.
Climate change in the North Sea Region is predicted to have a pronounced effect on annual rainfall patterns. Soils, rich in organic matter and biological life, function both as a water buffer during periods of drought and as drainage during periods of heavy rains. Application of biochar into soils is also a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) strategy because it actually creates a sink for carbon in soils and prevents its release into the atmosphere.
Joint development and implementation of knowledge and methodological standards on biochar feedstocks, logistics and production.
Joint development and implementation of methodological standards on biochar applications for soil quality and fertility improvement.
Joint development and implementation of biochar knowledge dissemination strategy for authorities, producers and end-users of biochar.
Establishment of a Biochar competence centre in each NSR country.
Regional and national policy influence on implementation of biochar use in soils.
April - September 2011
The project Biochar climate saving soils is gaining momentum. After scientific discussions on transnational standards, feedstock's, biochar production processes, transnational data formats and transnational soil assessment protocols the project team reached consensus on these topics. First results on biochar laboratory tests regarding production, characterization and application in glasshouse experiments are now visible. Furthermore, the national competence centres are in full development since the locations of the field trials are known, the joint biochar is deliverd and the biochar applications in the field are in full progress. The national competence centres will be operational with the start of the growing season of the crops in May/June 2012.
Mr Al Gore used part of the UKBRC Interreg biochar film (April 2010) in a presentation on 28th September 2011 to the Low Carbon Innovation conference in Edinburgh, UK.
October 2010 - March 2011
Core activities included the establishment of transnational working groups to discuss the issues around biochar feedstocks, production processes, life cycle assessments, field trails and regulations. Based on these discussions, beneficiaries are now in the phase of compiling and testing the biochar knowledge in small scale experiments in preparation for the field trials in 2011. The trials are taking place in Germany, Belgium, UK, Norway and Denmark.
The creation of the national competence centres is well underway and one competence centre in the Netherlands has already been established.
Preparations are being made for the organisation of the first INTERREG-NSR biochar conference. The conference will be organised in Berlin on 6 October 2011 in cooperation with German research organisations that are active in the biochar field.
April - September 2010
Core activities included the establishment of transnational working groups to discuss the issues around biochar feedstocks, production processes, life cycle assessments, field trails and regulations. Based on these discussions, beneficiaries are now in the phase of compiling and testing the biochar knowledge in small scale experiments in preparation for the field trials in 2011.
The project has opened the first biochar national competence centre in the Netherlands, which now makes it possible for interested farmers and other parties to see demonstration fields and gain insight into the production and usage of biochar.
Finally, the project has successfully continued its communication efforts since the project's presentation at the Agriculture and Rural Development day, which was held by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in December 2009 in relation to the COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen. The video produced for COP15 was broadcasted by National Geographic television in the Netherlands in May and June 2010.
October 2009 - March 2010
BioChar carried out activities in relation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 15 in Copenhagen 2009. The Biochar project will be presented at the Agriculture and Rural Development Day held by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) on 12 December. Project partners prepared in cooperation with the International Biochar Initiative for this purpose an information flyer. A project exhibition booth and informative video completed the information package.
Specialists from the UKBRC (UK Biochar research centre) from the University of Edinburgh were invited by the EU JRC (Joint Research centre) on a side event on 7 December organized by the European Commission. Bioforsk from Norway, another project partner were invited to give a presentation at a side event organized in the Bellona centre.
The other main activities in the first period were attributed to fill in the definitions, protocols and requirements for the transnational cooperation regarding Biochar. Therefore several dedicated working groups were established.
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