Land application of biochar represents a “valuable” component of carbon farming through carbon sequestration, the reduction in GHG emissions with further eco-system service benefits.
The following recommendations arise from the LCA of the production and use of biochar from unutilised agricultural biomass in Ireland:
Further exploration of biochar production and use from unutilised biomass and how this can be scaled up and fine tuned to regional contexts over the longer term;
Further work to assess the scale of permanent carbon storage potential and CDR opportunities that exist for biochar made from rushes and other unutilised agricultural biomass;
Further exploration of the use of management strategies in the dairy and beef sectors using biochar;
Further work to assess the scale of stable carbon storage potential for biochar to meet future EU carbon certification requirements and the National Carbon Farming Framework.
The Department of Agriculture, Fo