21 May 2009
DAFF09/253B

The Rudd Government today announced $1.4 million for the biggest biochar research project in Australia’s history – and one of the biggest in the world.

The CSIRO will coordinate the three-year project, to look at biochar’s potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost farm productivity.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke announced the funding, under the Government’s Climate Change Research Program.

He said it would be a significant project for Australia and the global community.

Experts in biochar, soil science and emissions management from across Australia will join the national research project.

Biochar is a fine charcoal, produced when organic matter such as wood or crop waste is burnt without oxygen.

It has potential to store carbon from the atmosphere in soil and could be used to help offset greenhouse gas emissions.

Other potential benefits include storing more nutrients and water in soil and reducing acidity.

Expert groups including the CSIRO had called for more research to address substantial ‘knowledge gaps’ in relation to biochar.

An expression of interest for the research proposal was submitted in September 2008 in the first round of applications under the Climate Change Research Program.

The independent Climate Change Expert Panel recommended no decision be made on the proposal until the CSIRO had completed a review to identify major biochar research gaps.

Smaller-scale biochar research projects have already been funded by the Government, including through Richmond Landcare in NSW.

“There is no single solution to climate change and we are investigating a wide range of measures which could help prepare Australia for the future,” Mr Burke said.

“Hopefully this project will shed much more light on how biochar works – its potential, how to use it safely and any drawbacks.

“We know that some biochars can be bad for plant growth and the wrong biochar with the wrong soil can cause toxic byproducts.

“Research is key – and we believe the findings from this project will be important in global discussions on how biochar can be used in agriculture.”

CSIRO Director of the Agricultural Sustainability Initiative Dr Brian Keating welcomed the funding.

“The CSIRO is pleased to coordinate this important national project for Australian agriculture,” he said.

“This project builds significantly on current research within the CSIRO and our research partners.

“It will define the potential contribution that biochar production and application can make to productivity and carbon management in Australian agriculture.”

The Climate Change Research Program is part of Australia’s Farming Future, the Government’s major climate change research program for our primary industries.