Biochar supply-chain and challenges to commercialization |
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| Authors: | David Zilberman David Laird Coleman Rainey Jie Song Gabriel Kahn |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA;2. Emeritus of Agronomy at the Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA;3. Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkley, Berkeley, California, USA;4. Science Educator, Oakland, California, USA |
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| Abstract: | Produced through pyrolysis, biochars are used as a soil amendment. Differences in feedstock and processing result in differentiated products which impact their values in different soil conditions. Despite the enormous potential, biochars have not been widely used. This paper overviews the benefits and potential demand for biochar and features of supply chain, and identifies opportunities for viable introduction of biochars. The value of biochars should be evaluated as a part of the pyrolysis system that coproduces biochars and biofuels. Biochars can improve agricultural productivity and soil functioning and contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. Furthermore, it can provide extra benefit by contributing to fire prevention. The cost of biochar system depends on the costs of feedstock acquisition, transportation, and processing. Biochar is most likely to be adopted in locations with marginal land and high-value crop, and near low-cost feedstock sources. The adoption of biochar can be enhanced by compensation for carbon sequestration, further investment in research, and learning of producers to enhance efficiency of the supply chain. |
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| Keywords: | biochar biofuel demand economics feedstock pyrolysis soil amendment supply chain technology adoption |
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