a copy of the Webinar Presentation - International Biochar Initiative

Process and Document Overview
International Biochar Initiative
and Leading Carbon Ltd.
October 2011

Introduction
◦ Presenters
◦ International Biochar Initiative
History of the Process
Document Overview:
◦ Guideline Scope
◦ Definitions
◦ Feedstock Requirements and Process Recommendations
◦ Levels and Test Details
◦ Using the Guidelines
Next Steps
Questions

International Biochar Initiative
Debbie Reed/Kelpie Wilson
Leading Carbon
Keith Driver
Alison Lennie

Who we are….
…a non-profit organization supporting
researchers, commercial entities, policy
makers, development agents, farmers and
gardeners committed to sustainable biochar
production and use.
Our mission…
…is to promote the development of biochar
systems that follow cradle-to-cradle
sustainability guidelines.

Our vision….
…is to support the commercialization of sustainable
biochar systems at all scales by 2015 that will…
◦ Help solve the global food security crisis and ensure soil
security with the use of biochar;
◦ Help solve the global climate change crisis with the use of
biochar; and
◦ Help make agricultural production at all scales more
sustainable with the use of biochar.

IBI’s VISION:
◦ Help attain the commercial viability of sustainable biochar
production and utilization at all scales,
◦ Enhance the global soil resource, and
◦ To help combat climate change
Before the industry can succeed in these efforts, we
must be able to define, analyze and communicate the
essential characteristics that make biochar useful
To do this, we must establish guidelines and tests to
confirm that a product intended for sale or use as
biochar possesses the necessary characteristics for
safe use

improve
product
quality
enhance
safety
facilitate
market access
and trade
build
consumer
confidence in
biochar
products

Biochar is a spectrum of materials with a
range of different properties
Both beneficial and challenging
Researchers are challenged to match results to
particular traits and characteristics
Guidelines for Specifications of Biochars will assist the
research community by providing a framework for
consistent biochar characterization
Biochar is a relatively new field. These Guidelines will be
revised in an iterative process based on new
developments in the science of biochar

Biochar is a spectrum of materials with a
range of different properties
Soils are also extremely heterogeneous
The range of biochar end uses is broad, with different
material requirements for different purposes, different
soils, and different applications
This is good news because it means that there are a
large number of potential markets for biochar materials,
once the challenges of characterizing and matching
biochars to applications are overcome

Certification/Standardization Effort
Announced in Rio de Janeiro 2010
Phase 1: Collaborative International Working
Groups - late 2010 to spring 2011
Phase 2: Live Meeting of Experts Frankfurt -
July 2011
Live posting of document - October 2011

Adherence to global, transparent, fully-documented process
congruent with existing standard-setting bodies such as ISO
Relies on existing research and knowledge and built from
accepted methodologies, standards, regulations and tests
Public input solicited and incorporated throughout the
process
Document will evolve over time in an iterative process with
revisions as warranted

Adherence to process is extremely important
Part of the process is documentation of each step undertaken
with the global community of biochar stakeholders
Documentation of the IBI Guidelines development process is
available to any entity that wishes to take these guidelines and
build upon them.
Rigorous documentation provides the basis for further
development of the IBI Guidelines for Specifications of Biochars
under any other standards development or regulatory process.

Accepting public comment from October 15, 2011
until November 15, 2011
Incorporation of public comment and document
revision
Posting of revised document in December 2011
Balloting by IBI membership to accept or reject
revised document
IBI must raise funds to pay for a legal review of the
final document before it can be published and put
into service.

Guidelines for Specification of Biochars
◦ Guideline Scope
◦ Definitions
◦ Feedstock Requirements and Process
Recommendations
◦ Levels and Test Details
◦ Using the Guidelines

Feedstock Carbonization Biochar End Use
What IS biochar?
Physical and chemical properties of biochar
Material properties reporting
Basis for IBI certification and 3 rd party standards
NOT a sustainability standard
NOT a production procedure guideline
NOT an end-use guideline

Who will use the Guidelines?
Biochar producers
Biochar marketers
Users
Regulators
Researchers
National and regional IBI affiliates can adapt
these guidelines to their local jurisdictions

Who will participate in the IBI Certified Biochar
Label Program?
IBI
Biochar producers
Biochar distributors and marketers
Testing labs
Who will benefit from the program?
Producers
Distributors and marketers
Users

How will the label be used?

Focus on biochar contents and properties, not
carbonization process or end use
Phrased for relevance to document
Concerning key constituents of biochar as a final
product
◦ e.g. ash, organic carbon
Related terms used in document
◦ e.g. feedstock, biomass, carbonization
Areas of concern (regulatory or otherwise)
◦ e.g. contaminant, diluent, MSW

Biochar: A solid material obtained from the
carbonization of biomass.
Biochar MUST be made from biomass.
Biomass: The biodegradable fraction of products,
waste and residues of biological origin from
agriculture (including vegetal and animal substances),
forestry, and related industries including fisheries
and aquaculture, as well as the biodegradable
fraction of industrial and municipal waste (including
municipal solid waste).

Biochar Characteristics: those physical properties
that affect the following uses of biochar:
1. biochar that is added to soils with the intention to
improve soil functions; and
2. biochar that is produced to convert a portion of
the biomass feedstock into a stable carbon
fraction, which has carbon sequestration value.
This is done in order to reduce emissions from
biomass (that would otherwise naturally degrade
to greenhouse gases).

Diluent/Dilutant: Inorganic material that is
deliberately or inadvertently comingled with
biomass feedstock prior to processing.
◦ Materials will not carbonize in an equivalent fashion
to the biomass.
◦ Includes common constituents of natural soils, such
as clays and gravel that may be gathered with
biomass or intermixed through prior use of the
feedstock biomass.
◦ May be found in a diverse range of feedstocks, such
as agricultural residues and municipal solid wastes.

Processed vs. Unprocessed Feedstock
Processed Feedstock: Biomass that has gone through
chemical processing (for example, chemical treatment such
as occurs with wood preservatives and paper pulp sludges) or
biological processing (for example, digestion, such as
manures and sludge from waste effluent treatment) beyond
simple mechanical processing to modify physical properties.
Unprocessed Feedstock: Biomass that has not gone through
chemical or biological processing, but may have gone
through mechanical processing to change its physical
properties, including particle size.

Feedstock content, quality & reporting:
Feedstock type must be declared, as feedstock
affects final biochar product quality.
Feedstocks must be biomass-sourced.
No more than 2% (dry wt) contaminants
MSW containing hazardous materials or wastes may
not be included as eligible feedstocks under these
guidelines
Only unprocessed feedstocks are eligible for Level 1
testing category.

These Guidelines are not prescriptive of
production and handling.
Guidelines recommend:
Adherence to local regulations
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Good business practices

Not prescriptive of sustainability or production
process
Process and Sustainability Guidelines will be
addressed by IBI in future documents
View background papers on biochar sustainability
on the IBI Biochar Sustainability page:
www.biochar-international.org/sustainability

Testing Level Categories are designed to:
Enable comparison of different biochars through
uniform presentation
Incrementally increase testing requirements so that
higher levels of characterization & testing provide a
more comprehensive understanding of the
composition and properties of the material
Test level categories are cumulative - higher category
levels include all preceding lower level tests.
Level 1 test category sufficient to protect against harm,
but still affordable by small producers

Tests were chosen according to these criteria:
Tests that could accurately measure biochar
characteristics of concern
Uses standardized, peer-reviewed, already
approved & in-use tests, thresholds and
methodologies
Intended to improve/expand with evolving
science
To be accessible, accurate and affordable

Level 1
Entry
Level
Level 2
Moderate
Level 3
Advanced
Testing Level 1: Basic parameters to assess
utility. Applies only to biochars from
unprocessed feedstocks.
Testing Level 2: Basic analysis and enhancement
properties, meeting toxicity thresholds.
Testing Level 3: Advanced analysis and
enhancement properties, meeting additional
toxicity thresholds.

Testing Level 1
Exclusively From Unprocessed Feedstocks
Basic Biochar Characteristics
◦ Moisture, ash, carbon, H:C, N, pH, liming, particle
size distribution
Vegetative and Invertebrate Vigour
◦ Based on OECD(Organization for Economic and Cooperative
Development) analysis

Testing Level 2
Meets Level 1 quality reporting, but can be of
processed or unprocessed feedstock origin
Basic Soil Toxicity Thresholds/Declarations
◦ As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Mo, Hg, Ni, Se, Zn, B, Cl, Na*
Basic Soil Enhancement Properties
◦ Total K, Total P, Available P, Mineral N, Electrical
Conductivity
◦ *underlined elements have maximum content
thresholds non-underlined elements require
content declarations only

Testing Level 3
Meets Level 2 quality reporting
Advanced Soil Toxicity Thresholds
◦ PCBs, PAHs, Furans, Dioxins
Advanced Soil Enhancement Properties
◦ Porosity, Surface Area

Over time, as scientific knowledge and
technology advance, the tests and testing
levels may change:
Better or more accurate tests may be
developed to replace current tests
New tests measuring new attributes may be
developed
Additional testing level categories could be
added or existing levels re-configured

Labeling: visible label with all information, OR
link to website with information.
MUST BE EASILY UNDERSTOOD & ACCESSIBLE
Feedstock, country of origin, test level reporting
Includes special instructions such as handling,
transportation, MSDS, HMIS (Hazardous Material
Identification System) etc.

SAMPLE LABEL

Sampling and Testing must be conducted:
◦ every 600 tonnes of consistent feedstock through-put, or
◦ every 6 months, or
◦ after a material change in feedstock, or
◦ after a material change in production parameters
Before final storage and shipping
By trained & accredited professionals.
Documentation should include chain of
custody and product traceability information

Live posting October 2011
Public Comment Period - October 15 to November
15, 2011
Document revisions
Document re-posting December 1, 2011
Balloting Period (IBI Members Only) December 15-31,
2011)
Legal Review (Funds must be raised first)
Guideline Implementation January 2012
Development of Certification Process TBA

FAQs
How do I know an IBI labelled biochar is safe
to use?
Will these tests help me meet the regulatory
requirements for soil amendments in my
country?
Can I substitute different test methods that I
use on a regular basis instead of the
referenced methods?

Questions? E-mail us:
BiocharGuidelineIBI@gmail.com