Climate, Energy, Biochar, and Agriculture
A weekly seminar series sponsored by
UMASS Center for Agriculture and the
Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences
Thursdays, 4:00 pm,
Room 318, Stockbridge Hall, UMASS Amherst
Coordinated by
Prof. Emeritus Richard S. Stein
Assoc. Dean Stephen Herbert
With much help from members of the
Pioneer Valley Biochar Initiative, Belchertown
Seminar Schedule as of 1/27/11: Downloadable PDF
See Seminar website at UMASS for current updates:
http://www.ag.umass.edu/index.php/home/11-front-page-items/17-biochar-seminar-series
The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has been increasing at a dangerously accelerating rate in recent years, believed to be due in large part to release of ancient carbon by humans through our increasing consumption rate of fossil fuels. And increasingly we see the evidence of 'climate chaos' which climate scientists have warned about for decades. What are we to do? Locally and globally we must prepare for the various predicted effects of these climatic changes to insure our future.
Over the next three months, a weekly seminar series entitled, “Climate, Energy, Biochar, and Agriculture” has been initiated by the Pioneer Valley Biochar Initiative at The University of Massachusetts in Amherst, under the auspices of the Center for Agriculture with the help of its Director, Associate Dean Stephen Herbert. It is open to all interested at no cost and also available for student credit through the Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences.
The first of the weekly seminars will take place this Thursday, Jan. 27 at 4:00 pm in Room 318 of Stockbridge Hall with an Introduction to the Series by Emeritus Professor Richard Stein. The second meeting on Feb. 3, will feature Raymond Bradley, Director of the University’s Climate Systems Research Center and Distinguished Professor of Geosciences who will discuss general aspects of climate change and global warming. He was a contributor to the UN sponsored IPCC report. Subsequent meetings will occur weekly at the same time and place and will include contributions by noted authorities like Susan Leschine of the University’s Microbiology Department and a discoverer of the “Q Microbe”, now being commercialized which is capable of producing ethanol from cellulose sources such as wood. Others are Hugh McLaughlin, Director of Biocarbon Research for Alterna Biocarbon, Inc. and Peter Hirst, of New England Biochar and marketers of the Adam Retort, a pyrolyzer for making biochar, and , and Dr. Thomas B. Reed, of the Biomass Energy Foundation.
The use of biochar will be featured during the series which is being promoted by the Pioneer Valley Biochar Initiative operating out of Belchertown, MA at the facility of the New England Small Farm Institute. Biochar is a form of carbon prepared by heating biomass in limited air (pyrolysis) which serves as a soil additive which remains in the soil for extended periods of time and serves to promote plant and tree growth. In this regard, it acts to be “carbon negative” in that CO2is removed from the atmosphere during the photosynthesis and the biomass growth, and its carbon is returned to the soil in an inert form where it may remain for centuries. It has been referred to as “coal mining in reverse”.
Its use is not a new technique, having been pioneered by the natives of the Amazon about 7,000 years ago and has been referred to as “Terra Preta” and called the “Black Gold of the Amazon”. It’s use has been described by the Amherst author, Charles Mann in his 2005 book, “1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. It is a relatively inexpensive “low technology” technique, readily adoptable by farmers and foresters, having the prospect of addressing climate and soil depletion problems. The University has the prospect of being a leader in advocating its use. We have been one of the most active groups in America for this and are in good contact with groups in other countries such as Canada and Japan. A UMass graduate, Nathaniel Mulcahy, is President of the World Stove Co. in Italy which has been active in promoting biochar use in third world countries and in helping the residents of Haiti recover from their disaster.
Thus, there is an opportunity to perform a much needed service in helping the world deal with its serious environmental problems. We hope to “turn on” our students and others in the area to help with this mission.
What are we to do?
Locally and globally we must prepare for the various predicted effects of these climatic changes to insure our future. The greater per capita production of CO2 in the U.S. is recognized, so efforts to reduce this through conservation seem desirable. Also, the employment of energy sources not emitting CO2 should be considered. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any one source that will do this alone, but some combination of them accompanied by conservation could serve.
It is evident that there will be a continuing and perhaps increasing need for energy in view of population growth and technological developments. If fossil fuel sources are phased out, alternatives are needed. What these should be depends on location. In the southwest, with ample sunlight, solar energy is attractive. In the windy plains and at the seacoast or off-shore where there is ample wind, this could make a significant contribution. Much of New England is blessed by appreciable forest area, so its furnishing biofuel need be considered. Because of differences in population density and need for transporting bulky biofuels, such use may be more appropriate for more rural locations.
The University of Massachusetts in Amherst has a strong tradition in agricultural studies, accompanied by rapid recent growth in the “hard sciences”.
