U.S.-FocUSed Biochar report - BioEnergy Lists

nineties, more than six million acres of agricultural land—an area the size of Maryland—were converted to developeduses. 9 It will be key moving forward to assess the land and water needs relative to the proposed biomass andbiochar targets to ensure sustainable choices.To once again look at the example of unintended consequences, massive subsidies to promote American cornproduction for ethanol have shifted soy production to Brazil where large areas of native grasslands are beingconverted to soybean farms. The expansion of soy in the region is contributing to deforestation in the Amazon. 10Deforestation reduces the capacity of natural systems to absorb carbon among other ills.Natural Capital – Natural capital represents the goods and services that nature provides typically “free ofcharge” and not readily replicable by human endeavors without great cost, even if possible. Disruption of nativeecosystems and even small natural areas can deplete that natural capital, which globally is valued at $16 to $54trillion (USD 1997) annually. 11 This is an average of $33 trillion a year. For perspective, the annual gross nationalproduct globally from all human endeavors equals $18 trillion a year. 12Economics – Simple economics suggest that production and retrieval of biomass need to be economically feasiblewithin sustainability guidelines. To exceed sustainable capacities to increase short-term gain has dire consequencesfor environments and societies that are already compromised, particularly those that have reached thepoint of limited to no resilience. The loss of natural capital combined with the cost of repairing and restoringcompromised ecosystems typically exceeds the value of the material extracted.Biochar, in the face of this economic/sustainability dual challenge, is advantaged by the creation of a series ofsustainable products simultaneously extracted from a flow of biomass. For example a forestry company mayhave a post and pole operation that sends the residual ends and tops to a chipper that converts that biomass intobiochar. The conversion into biochar will release thermal energy that can be used to dry the timber products toincrease the value of those products. The biochar can then be put back into forest soils to increase timber yieldsand sequester carbon. An integrated sustainable approach will likely require multiple products that support eachother and the environment that produces them.Pest Management and Invasive Species – Planting monocultures and/or removing natural controls (predators-- including insects--and their habitats) bodes danger because as has been illustrated repeatedly historically,once pests and/or invasive species are introduced, it is nearly impossible to eradicate them. Pests and invasivespecies convert habitat, limit ecosystem resilience, out-compete beneficial plants and animals and reduce foodsupplies for people and animals. Biochar in production creates extremely high temperatures, cost-effectively killinginsects and weed seeds, thus allowing the safe use of insect- or disease-infested biomass.Primary ReportsExtensive research and collaborative efforts have been invested into understanding the relationship of biomassto natural systems and its potential use in the human system, particularly for the creation of renewable energy.More recently, as the benefits of biochar become even clearer, interest in the conversion of biomass to biocharis growing rapidly. Along with that is the concern for the sustainable use of biomass, particularly in light of theincreasing interest in biomass use for a variety of other purposes and products.Pyrolysis (the technology used for biochar production), while it can produce the same benefits of standard biomass-to-energy(heat and power) systems, also produces biochar. Almost all emissions are captured for addi-9 American Farmland Trust, “Farming on the Edge: Sprawling Development Threatens America’s Best Farmland”. http://www.farmland.org/resources/fote/default.asp10 Butler, R. (2008), “U.S. biofuels policy drives deforestation in Indonesia, the Amazon,” news.mongabay.com. Retrieved 16December 2009 from http://news.mongabay.com/2008/0117-biofuels.html11 Costanza, Robert, et.al., “The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital”. Nature, Vol. 87, May 1997. http://www.uvm.edu/giee/publications/Nature_Paper.pdf12 Ibid.44U.S.-Focused Biochar Report:Assessment of Biochar’s Benefits for the United States of America