ReGenAg Chat

ReGen Ag Chat 25: "Biochar - miracle or gimmack?" with Dr Donna Udall

May 17, 2023 Liz Genever and Nic Renison
ReGenAg Chat
ReGen Ag Chat 25: "Biochar - miracle or gimmack?" with Dr Donna Udall
Show Notes


Nic Renison and Liz Genever - two of the founders of Carbon Calling - spoke to Dr Donna Udall from the Centre of Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University about biochar. They also talked about attitudes to scientists within the regenerative movement and the need to look at how we are educating the next generation.

Biochar is a specific type of charcoal that is produced when biomass is burnt with very little oxygen.

Donna has been researching the benefits of biochar in UK and other temperate soils, plus tropical soils. She will talk us through how it is made, how it can lock down carbon and potential benefits for soils in the UK. She will also highlight some negatives of biochar and its potential impact on yield.

Donna comes from a beef and sheep family farm in mid Wales.