The 2023 US Farm Bill has the potential to support climate solution practices and technologies, including biochar, which can combat climate change and its negative effects on farming communities and the global community. Biochar is produced from biomass through different thermochemical conversion methods and has multiple uses, including carbon sequestration, enhancing soil quality, and biomass production. The biochar industry is fragmented, but optimizing all potential outputs and business models while focusing on developing sophisticated technologies can achieve high-quality carbon removal. The upcoming Farm Bill can contribute to disaster prevention, soil health, biochar research, and funding for biochar projects through programs like the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities. The Biochar Coalition is working on integrating biochar into markets beyond agriculture and breaking down silos between industries that would benefit from biochar. Additionally, measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) are critical to ensuring credibility and scalability in the biochar industry.
00:00:00 In this section, Wendy Liu, the Executive Director of the International Biochar Initiative (IBI), provides an introduction and context for the importance of the 2023 US Farm Bill for the global biochar industry. The US Farm Bill is estimated to be worth half a trillion dollars over a five-year period, making it the largest single funding legislation for the US agricultural sector, and it affects the second-largest agricultural economy in the world. Wendy explains that a farm bill that supports biochar, among other climate solution practices and technologies, can help combat climate change and its negative effects on farming communities and the global community. The upcoming 2023 farm bill holds a critical opportunity to strengthen these programs to better support healthy people, a healthy planet, and a healthy farm economy while also supporting carbon removal that is essential to staying out of a 1.5 to 2-degree pathway.
00:05:00 In this section, David Laird, Professor Emeritus at Iowa State University and President of AG Tech startup company Nonsense, explains that biochar is produced from biomass through thermochemical conversion in the absence of oxygen, resulting in charcoal. The majority of carbon in biochar is highly stable, making it effective for carbon sequestration, enhancing soil quality, and having cascading impacts on biomass production, crop growth, water quality, and carbon sequestration. The challenge is monetizing it and scaling it up to have a significant impact on climate change, which requires getting prices down. There are three types of biochar production methods: slow pyrolysis, gasification, and fast pyrolysis, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Fast pyrolysis, particularly auto-thermal fast pyrolysis, is not yet commercial but has the advantage of producing biochar and co-products.
00:10:00 In this section, the video discusses the pathways for generating biochar and the multiple different uses for it, including producing a bio crude that can be used as a liquid bunker fuel, in marine transportation, and can be turned into diesel. It also produces a pyrolytic sugar product that can be upgraded and fermented to ethanol, which can be used to create jet fuel, leading to high-value co-products. The video then focuses on Monocarbon’s approach, a startup based in Washington State in the US, which builds large-scale carbon removal facilities that take in waste biomass, predominantly from in-woods residuals, to produce biochar and generate renewable base load electricity. The company aims to support large-scale carbon removal, regenerative agriculture, and job creation in rural economies, with plans to build multiple biochar production facilities across the US. Additionally, Amy McRae Kessler, Co-founder of the US Biochar Coalition, discusses the value of biochar facilities in producing zero-emission or carbon-negative electricity, which is becoming increasingly valuable, especially in areas experiencing significant grid instability due to aging infrastructure and extreme weather.
00:15:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the US biochar industry and the need for its growth to address significant environmental issues and carbon removal. The industry is fragmented, with small producers that cannot move the dial on scale, and only 8% of biochar producers making electricity. The speaker advocates for optimizing all potential outputs and business models while focusing on developing more sophisticated technologies to achieve high-quality carbon removal. There is a need for opening sequestration markets while expanding beyond the agriculture sector to nature-based markets such as landscape restoration, soil health, and biodiversity. The speaker believes that biochar underpins all these markets and is critical to promoting a sustainable global economy.
00:20:00 In this section, Sebastian provides an overview of the biochar market in Europe and its potential for growth. According to the European Biochar Industry Consortium’s market report, last year saw 33.5 thousand tons of biochar produced in Europe, set to grow this year to around 50 thousand tons. This is equivalent to removing 150,000 tons of CO2. Sebastian notes that Europe is predicting removing around 10 million tons of CO2 by 2030 and around 100 million tons per 2040 with almost 50% of all biochar removal happening in the German-speaking country Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. It’s exciting growth rates, and most of this is driven by large and very large plants in Europe, which have a technology readiness level already of nine, making it possible to develop and deploy sophisticated equipment.
00:25:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of the Farm Bill in the growth of the biogas industry, which has become a $68 billion economic value as a result of organized efforts to be involved in policy. The speaker highlights the need for the biochar industry to also have a voice in Farm Bill discussions every five years, which is must-pass legislation, and how the U.S biochar Coalition is working to build markets and integrate practices through the provisions of Farm Bill. By opening up secondary sequestration markets and creating awareness and education at the federal legislative and policy level, the biochar industry can benefit significantly from Farm Bill discussions, which also covers agriculture, forestry, research, rural development, nutrition, conservation, economic development for rural areas, livestock, and agricultural defense and security.
00:30:00 In this section, the speakers discuss how the 2023 US Farm Bill can contribute to disaster prevention and save money for the administration while securing the farmers and rural economies. They explain that adding provisions to qualify for crop insurance based on biochar and implementing programs that incentivize producers to support climate-smart practices including biochar application can help replenish soil health and make it more resistant to drought and flooding. They also suggest expanding funding for the utilization of crop residue and incentivizing biochar adoption as a climate-smart agricultural amendment to expand biochar markets. Additionally, the speakers advocate for supporting biochar research, and expanding facility funding to improve rural economic development.
00:35:00 In this section, the speakers discuss the numerous opportunities provided by the 2023 US Farm Bill for the biochar industry, including funding for research, development, and deployment in diverse markets, such as biochar-enhanced fertilizers and other bioproducts. They also mention the upcoming release of a brief by the Carbon Business Council on the farm bill and emphasize that there are many more opportunities not covered in the discussion. David underscores the importance of the bill in promoting biochar as a serious and profitable business, particularly in the farming community where education is crucial. He also highlights the value of USDA’s funding for research on biochar’s fundamental science and application, including the proposed bipartisan Biochar Research Network Act of 2023 that seeks to establish up to 20 biochar research sites nationwide.
00:40:00 In this section, the speakers discuss the proposed $50 million yearly funding for biochar research through 2028. They note that while incorporating this into the farm bill would be fantastic, there is still no guaranteed funding available. The additional funding is necessary to develop an in-depth research network and databases around biochar, which is crucial to avoid negative impacts from using the wrong type of biochar on the wrong soil under the wrong conditions. Additionally, integrating AI into research would be beneficial in speeding up the applied research process and accessing more research data. However, the main way to expand biochar at scale is through large agricultural industry adoption, which can be achieved through programs and incentives.
00:45:00 In this section, the speakers discuss the need for more investment in biochar projects through programs like the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities under the farm bill. While there have been billion-dollar investments in climate-smart agricultural practices, there has not been significant funding for biochar projects. The panelists note that there needs to be more pressure from all sides, including fertilizer companies and large agricultural companies, to fully adopt biochar as a climate-smart practice. One potential avenue for biochar expansion is through the emphasis on companies to reduce their scope 3 emissions. Additionally, the panel highlights the need to get conservation practice standard 336 on the approved list of climate-smart practices and to increase funding for climate-smart practices to support the biochar industry.
00:50:00 In this section, the speaker highlights the approach of the Biochar Coalition in working biochar into the mandatory funding parts of the 2023 US Farm Bill. She suggests that this approach involves touching on agriculture and getting biochar into markets that may not be agricultural markets, such as crop insurance programs and nutrition studies. The speaker stresses the importance of breaking down silos between the biochar industry and industries that could benefit from it, such as those with significant climate risk exposure or biodiversity exposure. She also sees tax incentives for biochar and reducing scope one through three as important policy trends for the industry. The speaker asserts that biochar is one of the most powerful carbon removal tools and could draw down 35 gigatons a year by 2050 if successfully scaled.
00:55:00 In this section, Sebastian discusses the importance of measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) in ensuring the credibility and scalability of the biochar industry. He notes that the industry already has several standards in place, including the EBC, PURE, and VERI standards, which include MRV and create trust in the robustness of carbon removal. Additionally, more producers are moving towards certification, with 70% of biochar in Europe being certified in 2019. Sebastian also highlights the importance of permanence in MRV and notes that a new field of study is coming into the biochar field, with geochemists studying the chemical composition of carbon in biochar. Overall, Sebastian emphasizes the need for accessible and low-entry tools and packaging of these standards to help with market development.
01:00:00 – 01:20:00
The panelists in the “2023 US Farm Bill and Biochar: Updates for a Global Audience” video discuss the responsible growth of the biochar industry, emphasizing carbon removal protocols and regulations to support healthy growth, responsible deployment, and accountability frameworks. They stress the need for expansion of markets, recognition of human rights and Fair Labor environment, and thinking about the impact of access to feedstocks on local livelihoods. The potential global implications of the 2023 US Farm Bill on biochar production and deployment are also addressed, with a focus on accessing available resources for small companies and entrepreneurs. The panelists discuss the issue of permanence in biochar and carbon removal and express optimism on how it could be dealt with.
01:00:00 In this section, the speakers discuss how to ensure that the biochar industry grows in a responsible manner that benefits local communities. This includes building large-scale facilities with sustainable feedstock supply, engaging with community stakeholders, and exploring where the biochar will be used. They stress the importance of following carbon removal protocols and regulations to support a healthy growth model for the industry as a whole. The speakers also emphasize the significance of responsible deployment and accountability frameworks to ensure the industry scales up responsibly.
01:05:00 In this section, the panelists discuss the importance of responsible deployment and connecting Europe and the US in the discussion. They stress the need for expansion of markets for biochar and all of the actions that need to be taken at scale to have a significant impact on mitigating the climate crisis. They also mention the need for the industry to recognize basic principles in human rights and Fair Labor environment and to think about the impact of their access to feedstocks on local livelihoods. The panelists further emphasize the potential of producing fuels using biochar and the opportunity to scale biochar systems sustainably.
01:10:00 In this section, the speakers discuss the potential global implications of the 2023 US Farm Bill on biochar production and deployment. They mention that the Farm Bill could be a significant boost to the biocarbon removal sector, leading to a scaling of equipment, driving innovation, and creating a strong market signal that could spill over to Europe and other regions. The speakers also touch on the resources available for small companies and entrepreneurs, including non-dilutive capital, federal and state funding, and programs like the USDA and DOE SBIR. The US Biochar Coalition and the International Biochar Initiative are noted as central hubs for understanding available resources.
01:15:00 In this section, Lauren and Amy discuss the need for a stronger voice for biochar in federal policies and grant programs. Lauren highlights the lack of mention of biochar in the IRA and the need to expand its industry in the farm bill and future climate bills. Amy emphasizes the importance of tapping into biochar’s impact on nutrition and disaster programs to increase adoption internationally. The US Biochar Coalition plans to provide access to information on different incentives, funding mechanisms, and grants for starting a bioenergy facility with biochar. They also aim to streamline efforts to help more people access these programs and enter the industry.
01:20:00 In this section, the panelists discuss the question of permanence when it comes to biochar and carbon removal. There are different ways to define permanence, with the US and Europe having different thresholds. The permanence of biochar could depend on future scientific discoveries in geochemistry, but based solely on soil science, it may not cross the threshold of a thousand years. Liability frameworks for biochar also need development, and there may be a lot of work to do if things go wrong. However, if biochar is stable carbon that will not change, it could be a much easier process to deal with. The discussion on permanence will continue, but the panelists express optimism and share their thanks to the audience for joining them during the webinar.
