biochar project funding awarded

[josiah hunt]

I am happy to announce that I have been awarded funding as a research grant through Big Island Resource Conservation and Development. The project is titled: 

Charcoal amended compost: plant growth responses in

local agricultural systems.

And could be summed up with this excerpt of the proposal:

 The project we are proposing to be funded through this grant opportunity would use the same methods mentioned above to produce an approximately 30 yard batch of our charcoal/compost product all of which would be donated to a series of competent and willing farmers and nursery-folk .  We would provide all the compost needed and the technical assistance involved with designing and monitoring test crops.  The test crops would be maintained and harvested by the businesses to which they were donated.  All technical analyses beyond basic measurements would be done through CTAHR and UH. 

We feel that local agricultural businesses getting hands on experience with our product will be more effective than pictures and numbers alone.   Our main objective in donating product would be to show the local community the effectiveness of our product in amending soils and increasing fertilizer efficiency, thereby increasing yield and/or diversity of potential crops and profit. 

Proper testing will vary depending on the nature of the business where it is used.  For example; in a nursery setting we might set our compost v.s. competitor compost, or to include it as an additive to whatever medium is used and measure cost v.s. benefit.  In a field scenario it may be more appropriate to measure soil characteristics before application, after application and after harvest, and yield differences with and without our product.  The amount of compost each business gets will depend on their need and will not exceed 10 yards.  A minimum of three, maximum of ten businesses will receive compost donations, all of which will be required to document uses of compost.

  We aim to help Hawaii County in achieving the resolution: “to Embrace and Adopt the Principles of Zero Waste as a Long-Term Goal for Hawai’i County”.  We view this as an important goal that can be achievable and will have many benefits.

Biochar shows promise to play an important role in achieving this goal.  As a waste management tool biochar systems stand out in their ability to simultaneously produce energy, sterilize organic waste materials, produce valuable agricultural material, and reduce global greenhouse gases.

Our goal is to aide in successfully integrating biochar into our local agricultural systems in such a way as to reduce waste and increase production.

The technical objectives of this project are to:

-       analyze physical, chemical and biological aspects of a biochar amended compost.

-       Assess plant growth responses in multiple scenarios that represent major agricultural industries in Hawaii County.

-       Establish a suitable price for our product with the agricultural producers receiving donations.

 

Social objectives include:

-       Raise awareness of new options in waste management.

-       Raise awareness of biochar as “a new frontier in soil science”, by providing local     agricultural producers an opportunity for hands-on experience.

-       Establish our business in the community through visible product use.

 

Biochar amended compost donations should be ready by January.  Any local agricultural businesses that are interested in being a part of this research project may E-mail or Call : 

Josiah Hunt 

ph. 808 936-3484

josia...@me.com

Many thanks to Steve Skipper of BIRC&D, Norman Arancon of UH Hilo, Mike Dupont of the Komohana agricultural extension, Council members Dennis Onishi and Emily Naole, and the helpful crew of the International Biochar Initiative.

Mahalo nui loa,

- Josiah