We wish to present our review to the Australia and New Zealand biochar community. (Title: A review of the evidence for the potential role of biochar to reduce net GHG emissions from New Zealand agriculture. Authors: M Hedley, M Camps-Arbestain, S McLaren, J Jones and Q Chen).  We presented this to MPI on 20 MArch, 2021.  It is publicly available at https://www.nzagrc.org.nz/assets/Publications/Potential-Role-of-Biochar-in-NZ-2021.pdf 

We wish to provide the following title and abstract with the same author list.  the presenter will be Jim Jones.
Title: The Potential Role of Biochar to Reduce Net GHG Emissions from New Zealand Agriculture

Abstract: New Zealand’s primary industries are rich in biomass harvest residues, which are potential feedstocks for biochar manufacture. However, policy makers facing the challenge of reducing New Zealand’s GHG footprint need research evidence on the feasibility of a domestic biochar industry contributing to net GHG reductions.   This review, directed at policy makers, searched over 18,000 research publications to synthesise research findings on: how feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions influence the C sink value of biochar, the energy value of pyrolysis co-products, and the biochar properties that add value when biochar is applied to soil (e.g. fertiliser and liming value and reduction of non-CO2 GHG emissions). Additionally, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies of biochar production and use were analysed to understand the relative significance of different feedstocks, pyrolysis conditions, fate of co-products, and different uses of biochar in contributing to mitigating climate change.  Currently there are few international examples of biochar production at scale. The main reason for the lack of adoption of biochar manufacture as a CDR technology is that the costs associated with biochar production are not currently covered by the C market, or by the biochar fertiliser and liming values. Nevertheless, the perceived benefits are large and the IPCC has proposed (in 2019) a protocol for biochar to be included in national inventories as a soil amendment contributing to increases in soil C.  The role of voluntary organisations cannot be understated, e.g., IBI, EBC and ANZBIG, who have been developing biochar certification schemes for biochar producers to demonstrate that the appropriate ethical, physical and chemical compliance standards of a C sink and environmental regulations are met. The review report is available here. This presentation will summarise the review with respect to what is needed to facilitate the uptake of biochar in New Zealand.