NewZealand Biochar Ltd

THE AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND BIOCHAR INITIATIVE CONFERENCE OCTOBER 2019

Refer to the ANZBC website https://anzbc.org.au/

Dennis attended this conference on behalf of both NZ Biochar Ltd and BNNZ (an in kind contribution to this organisation). The study tour and conference provided information and great networking opportunities. Key outcomes were that the conference participants see that the "main research results are in" that support biochars great potential, and that it is up to business to take it forward

He also presented a brief case history of "Soil Conditioner Products Limited", a business located at Pukekohe that uses high carbon boiler ash (HCBA) biochar.

THAILAND VISITS 2019

Dennis Enright visited Thailand in January and June to continue with various biochar projects.

Dennis collaborates with GreenNet Cooperative who work with more than 1200 small-scale farmers throughout the country growing a wide range of organic products such as; rice, coffee, coconuts, mulberries etc. When in Thailand, Dennis has conducted workshops on how to make and use biochar using low tech equipment, for both farmers and those who are doing extension work with farmers.

INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE ORGANISATION - BIOCHAR NETWORK NEW ZEALAND 14 FEB 2019

NZ Biochar Ltd in collaboration with AllBlackEarth organised the inaugural meeting of Biochar Network New Zealand (BNNZ), an incorporated society to support the biochar industry in NZ. Dennis Enright was elected chairperson.

The following are the objectives of the society:

The principal object of the society is to promote benefits to the biochar industry and interest groups in New Zealand by creating a positive industry profile and business environment for stakeholder members. This includes:

(a) Promoting to relevant industries, general public, the media, policy makers and Members of Parliament, biochar as a vital material of major social and economic significance to New Zealand.

(b) Representing to the relevant industries, general public, the media, policy makers and Members of Parliament, the common views of the biochar sector on generic issues.

(c) Contracting for the provision of services.

(d) Affiliating with and accept affiliation from any organisation whether established in New Zealand or elsewhere having objects in every respect wholly or in part similar to the objects of the society.

(e) Publishing, printing, circulating or editing any newspaper, magazine, publicity or pamphlet relating to the affairs or objects of the society.

(f) Holding or arranging lectures, exhibitions, public meetings, classes or conferences calculated directly or indirectly to be of benefit to the society or its members.

(g) Supporting the organisation and development of specialised or regional/local groups of biochar related activity within New Zealand.

(h) Generally doing all other things necessary for or incidental or ancillary to the protection, fostering or advancement of the interests of biochar production and use within New Zealand and the attainment of the above-mentioned objects or any of them. The objects set out in clause 3 are separate and distinct objects and no object shall be in any way limited or circumscribed by reference to any other object.

(i) Do anything necessary or helpful to the above purposes.

PROJECT - AN EVALUATION OF THE BENEFITS OF USING BIOCHAR TO REDUCE THE IMPACTS FROM SOIL CONTAMINANTS FOUND IN SUBURBAN VEGETABLE GARDENS DUNEDIN NZ 1st Sept 2018

Some suburban home garden soils have toxic levels of contaminants that will potentially be taken up by vegetables and consumed by the home owner. The range of contaminants can be quite varied but usually include; pesticides from previous land use or grower practice such as; DDT insecticide, lead from various sources but particularly from old paint that has flaked or been scraped off buildings, and zinc from galvanised iron.

Biochar has been shown to have potential to mitigate the impact of such soil contaminants and so a small field experiment is planned where various rates of biochar will be applied to garden soils and the leaf material from vegetables grown on these test plots tested to assess any affects. This project is supported by Mercy Garden South Dunedin (Mercy Parish, Catholic Social Services and Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand)

The project has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances..... We hope to continue with it in the future.

THAILAND VISIT JAN/FEB 2018

Visiting Thailand to promote biochar and work on biochar projects is important to NZ Biochar Ltd. Small scale subtropical and tropical farmers, who in many cases are working with nutrient deficient soils, are well placed to benefit from using biochar. If large numbers of small scale farmers around the world use biochar, then we all benefit as a consequence of carbon sequestration.

As mentioned in previous posts NZ Biochar is fortunate to have the support and collaboration of the Green Net Cooperative, a social enterprise organisation committed to organic production and Fair Trade in Thailand. We now have two projects; the first, an ongoing experimental site at Mae Tha, with the MaeTha Organic Vegetable Producer Group and Green Net, and second, I have now started a project with the Ban Krut Organic Coconut Producer Group and Green Net, at Ban Krut in the south of Thailand.

There are no crops growing (simulating farmer practice) on the dryland experimental site at Maetha at this time of the year because it is the dry season. Last season some plots were sown with baby corn while others were sown with soybeans. Vegetables other than baby corn are likely to be planted in these plots in the coming season.

While I was at MaeTha I also demonstrated to Green Net staff there how to make biochar in a small pit in the ground as well as in a 200 l barrel split in half long-ways, as examples of low tech, low cost techniques to make biochar.

The organic coconut farmers at Ban Krut have two ‘waste’ materials that are a problem to deal with. They are the butt end of coconut tree fronds and the cap and stem removed from the coconut during processing. We found that these could be biocharred in either a pit in the ground or in a concrete tub (tubs are readily found around Thailand). Having demonstrated these methods to Green Net staff at Ban Krut we then set up a small garden plot experiment to compare some biochar treatments. The experiment focused on using biochar in vegetable growing for farmers own consumption.

Warm Heart, Phrao whose primary objective is supporting under privileged children and developing local micro-entrepreneurship, continue to promote and work with biochar. During this visit, I undertook a small project to create and evaluate a biochar based potting mix that was simple to make and had potential as a commercial product. The New Mix is now being compared with two other potting mixes in a pot experiment growing kale and set up in a randomised block design, so that any treatment differences can be tested for statistical significance. Early assessments suggest that the New Mix is performing well.

I always enjoy visiting Pang Ma O village - Chiang Mai/Chiang Dhao at about 12oom elevation ('top of the hill') where the Ton Ping Organic Coffee Producer Group is based. In July last year we made compost at Pang Ma O from rice husks, harvested green material, dry pig poo and biochar (15% finished product). We also cut Lichee tree branches and stored them under cover to dry in preparation for making biochar. This visit we charred that wood and, along with the compost, stored it ready for use in an experiment that will focus on how to manage coffee tree nutrition more effectively.

I also spent time with various people, like Nita and Luka at Mae Taeng north of Chiang Mai. We made biochar and now they have primed it with nutrients and used it in their garden. They are pleased with how their garden grows.

AUSTRALIAN BIOCHAR CONFERENCE 10 - 12 AUGUST 2017

The Australia New Zealand Biochar Conference was held on August 10-12, 2017 at Murwillumbah Civic Centre and Showgrounds, NSW, Australia. Dennis joined the ANZBC17 organising committee on April 2nd 2017 where committee members located in NZ, Australia and Indonesia meet on Skype to plan this event.

During the conference Dennis presented a paper on Understanding the Role of Biochar in Vineyards, that reported on research results from experimental work conducted at Mt Difficulty Vineyard located at Bannockburn, Central Otago.

And on behalf of The WarmHeart Foundation he also demonstrated making biochar using a T500 trough.