The International Agrichar Initiative |
Renew the Earth managed the International Agrichar Initiative (IAI), organized the 2007 conference in Terrigal, NSW, Australia in 2007, and has helped the organization become an independent 501c3; renamed the International Biochar Initiative (IBI). RTE continues to play a leading role in the IBI, stressing the importance of including char in all RTE projects and programs. Additionally, Mr. Bill Holmberg, Chairman of the RTE Board, and Ms. Thayer Tomlinson, RTE Staff Director, are both members of the IBI Steering Committee and IBI Advisory Committee.
For more information on the IBI, please visit the IBI website at www.biochar-international.org. For 2007 conference-specific information, please click here. The 2007 Conference in Australia reviewed progress achieved in the field of Agrichar production and utilization in the following areas:
Research, Development, and Deployment:
- Review the results of research and development work in the field of Agrichar and energy co-production
- Review demonstration and commercial programs that have been operating in the field
- Identify barriers to commercialization of the Agrichar product and technology, and methods to overcome these barriers
- Visit sites where Agrichar R&D is underway in Australia
Policy and Education Development:
Organizational:
- Review the goals and tenets of the International Agrichar Initiative
- Review initiatives and progress to establishing an International Agrichar Organization
- Prepare a business and development plan for the International Agrichar Initiative, including specific funding and development proposals, and stated programs goals, time lines
- Prioritize key management questions to be resolved in order to bring the Agrichar agenda to the next stage
A total of 107 participants from 13 countries participated in the conference, representing scientists, economists, farmers, commercial interests, risk management ventures, representatives of the governments of Australia and New Zealand, media representatives, and others. The engagement and participation in research/science, economics, and policy discussions across the diversity of backgrounds was excellent, and made for stimulating and insightful discussions.
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