Biochar integration in small-holder agriculture is a transformative adaptation of the food production system to achieve climate mitigation, climate resilience and sustainable intensification. This project aims to quantify the contribution of biochar to climate change resilience, improved food security and profitability and to address knowledge gaps regarding biochar use in small-holder agriculture contexts in sub Saharan Africa.
We will study the biochar contribution to climate change mitigation using a life-cycle analysis approach. Adoption of biochar will be dependent on profitability at farm level. We will evaluate the cost-benefit of biochar integration and the impacts of producing quantity and quality on food value chains. Interaction between biochar and the nitrogen cycle will be studied to evaluate nitrogen use efficiency and the sustainability of nitrogen supply in the cropping system. We will also study the importance of biochar-soil-water-crop interaction for improved climate resilience. Results can be utilised to guide policy development on how biochar can be integrated in small-holder farming systems, and how bottlenecks that prevent the integration can be identified and addressed.
*At the time of the proposal. Please consider this data as an accurate estimate; it may vary during the project’s lifespan.
Total costs include in kind contribution by grant holders and can therefore be higher than the total requested funding.