The Biochar solution – An opportunity for Australia | Nigel Murphy & Steve Dudgeon

Climate change and environmental damage is one of the biggest challenges that we face today. It is therefore imperative that we continue to find sustainable solutions to ensure the future health of our precious environment. That is why this next HydroTerra webinar is so important.

So, what is Biochar? Biochar is essentially charcoal produced from plant matter and stored in the soil as a means of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Biochar provides Australia with an important economic, social and environmental opportunity, if scaled successfully. Over 50 million tonnes a year of commercially accessible sustainable biomass residues are currently being burned, landfilled, or under-utilised in Australia. Biochar has been identified as a key source of non-fossil fuel carbon with the potential for many important applications in our society including as an enhancement to land and agriculture, and as an important additive for industrial applications. Biochar production is one of the carbon dioxide (CO2) removal methods, also known as negative-emissions technologies (NETs). It is recognised by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as an effective method for climate change mitigation.

We were joined by Nigel Murphy. Nigel is the Founder and Director of Earth Systems and Cyclic Carbon, both companies that have been actively innovating and commercialising technology in the cleantech sector over the last 30 years, including Biochar. Nigel is extremely passionate about his work and is one of the most experienced and respected members within the industry. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and current chair of the Australian and New Zealand Biochar industry group.