A Report on the Value of Biochar and Wood Vinegar: Practical Experience of Users in Australia and New Zealand

Biochar and wood vinegar are emerging technologies with numerous applications in agriculture and environmental remediation1 . Advocates and early adopters of these products are well versed in their positive attributes. Biochar, for example, has been shown generally to increase crop yields in tropical latitudes2 i , remediate soil3 , reduce soil greenhouse gas emissions4,5, and sequester carbon6 amongst many other observed benefits1,7.

Yet it is arguably the case that not enough focus has been given in financial feasibility studies to the benefits observed by users of biochar beyond its use as a soil amendment8 . Existing studies in highincome countries tend to focus on soil amendments in low value cereal crops, and with the exception of Joseph, et al. 9 , they overlook biochar’s use as an animal feed, for soil remediation and for water use efficiency.

This report begins to address this knowledge gap by providing an account of how biochar and wood vinegar users are accruing benefits or disbenefits in their farming operations. In March and April of 2019, the Australian New Zealand Biochar Initiative (ANZBI) surveyed sixteen current users of biochar and six users of Wood Vinegar.

Publication Details

• Published: 2019
• Publisher: ANZBI