Can IBI provide more information on purchasing biochar?
The IBI receives frequent requests from gardeners, farmers and landscapers for information on reliable sources of biochar. At this time, IBI is unable to make these recommendations, primarily for two reasons: • There is not a system for classifying biochars in terms of their suitability for use in specific agricultural applications; and • There is not a system for certifying sustainable biochar production systems or producers of biochar. In other words, we are unable to say without specific evaluation whether a certain biochar will perform the soil improvement or carbon sequestration that a user anticipates, or whether it has been produced in a sustainable manner under full life cycle accounting. Developing these systems is a key priority for IBI, but until they are in place, along with the necessary data to back them up, we cannot responsibly make recommendations. Given the extremely promising research on the benefits of biochar, this is frustrating to us all, but we believe patience
