Sustainable Biochars – Carbon Sequestration to Mitigate Climate Change in Tropical Soil-Plant Systems: Sustainable Biochar Production and Application in Karnataka, South India (CASEKA)

Storing carbon (C) in soils is one of the most promising options to mitigate global climate change. Among proposed innovations, biochar systems seem to be one of the most promising: it consists in pyrolysing organic wastes into a charcoal-like material that can be added to the soil. This material can store C efficiently, but may also increase the soil fertility. In the meantime, its production yields energy that can be used for farms and industrial applications. However, we know yet little how to optimize the social acceptance and economically implement this technology, in particular in places where its action can be the most valuable, like tropical agricultural systems, where soil carbon content is low, organic wastes important, and soil fertility often a problem. This project aims to fill these knowledge gaps, relying on a multidisciplinary approach and methodology, including technical innovations, new findings providing a novel view of the biochar systems, and a unique opportunity to combine outstanding research sites and scientific complementary expertise between Earth and environmental sciences and social sciences.

Contact: Delphine THIVET, Email -delphine [DOT] thivet [AT] ifpindia [DOT] org