An organic recycling company and a land care organisation in South Australia have signed an agreement to research and trial the production and use of biochar in agriculture.
Jeffries Group, a recycler of organic material, and the South Australian No-Till Farmers’ Association (SANTFA), which describes itself as Australia’s largest land care organisation, believe that the production of biochar would result in better waste management, increased production of renewable energy, and the establishment of a local skills base in carbon capture.
According to the CSIRO, Biochar has been attracting growing interest due to its potential in carbon sequestration and in improving soil health. The burning process which produces the biochar can also be used to generate renewable energy.
A statement released by the two groups said that every tonne of organic waste burned is capable of producing 350 kg of biochar and 1 MW hour of renewable energy.
SANTFA Research and Development Manager Greg Butler said that the two groups were currently investigating the planning stage of the joint venture.
