MaD Organic Farm is proud to have been selected by Dr. Simon Shackley of the UK Biochar Research Centre, University of Edinburgh.
This 12 month project funded through the Asia Pacific Network (APN) includes partners from four countries, and it is led by the Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI) in India. Other partners are International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), SME Cambodia and the University of Edinburgh. This original research will look at the possible agronomic benefits, which the addition of biochar can have to agricultural systems in South Asia. Biochar's carbon storage properties also make this project useful to address the issue of CO2 reductions for the Asia Pacific region, and will also provide sustainability and social benefits. Biochar production SME Cambodia is an NGO with a sister company SME Renewable Energy Ltd and will provide the biochar for use in the trials.
Agribenefits
This research will investigate using crop trials the impact of biochar on soil. Changes to the chemical and physical properties of the soil will be measured before and after biochar addition, and also the yield of crop will be measured. Biochar trial plots will be located in the North West of Cambodia, in Siem Reap, and potential plots in the neighbouring province Kampong Thom are also being considered. Biochar will be added during the normal planting regime of rice and a chosen horticultural crop, and the condition of the soil analysed in addition to measuring the yield of the crop after harvest. Trials of differing application rates, as well as combinations with different fertiliser / greenwaste addition will be undertaken. Sites will be chosen to represent several farming scenarios in Cambodia, so project expansion will be possible if positive outcomes are concluded. The permanency of the elemental carbon in the trial site will be analysed using tests on the biochar in the soil, which will be necessary if the potential for carbon credit generation from these activities is to be realised.
Social benefits
This project aims to provide agricultural benefits for the rural poor, and in Cambodia 68.2% of the population (2000-2007) live on below $2/day. Cambodia had a reported HDI in 2007 of 0.593, which gives the country a rank of 137th out of 182 countries with data (UNDP 2009).
There is a potential for farmers in Cambodia to receive carbon credits through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or the voluntary carbon market, and this will be investigated. This could be an important revenue stream for poor communities. Cambodia is a prime location for this project since it has a large agricultural population who can potentially benefit from the addition of biochar to agricultural soils.
Project outputs
Project activities will lead to a better understanding of the role of biochar for carbon storage and agricultural improvements. The project final report will be made publicly available on the web. Policy recommendations for further development of biochar as a component of natural climate change, sustainable energy and agricultural policy will be produced. The project will also include 3 workshops, and key policy makers from across the Asia Pacific region will be invited so findings can be disseminated.
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