Biochar: Is the hype justified?
This BBC article talks about some of the biochar experiments going on around the world and also contains a video that shows how biochar is made.
"Green guru James Lovelock claims that the only hope of mitigating catastrophic climate change is through biochar - biomass "cooked" by pyrolysis. It produces gas for energy generation, and charcoal - a stable form of carbon. The charcoal is then buried in the ground, making the process "carbon negative". Researchers say biochar can also improve farm productivity and cut demand for carbon-intensive fertilisers. There's a flurry of worldwide interest in the technology, but is the hype justified?"
For the full article:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7924373.stm