It is believed that ancient South American cultures would use a rudimentary form of biochar to increase soil productivity thousands of years ago. Fast forward to the present day and the word Biochar is used to describe a substance that looks almost like charcoal, but that is actually biomass carbonized and made into a solid material, used in a multitude of ways from filtration to improving soil function and fertility.
One of the key impacts of climate change is its inevitable threat to the agricultural industry and food security as a whole. As the focus of WMG Cropping Systems Officer Md Zahangir Hossain’s recently completed PhD, Biochar’s use as a soil amendment has the potential benefits of bigger yields, healthier soils, lower acidity levels, richer microbial activity, and better water retention to name just a few.
This episode forms an introduction of sorts to one of our newest team members Zahangir, while Executive Officer Nathan Craig also joins the conversation, bringing his technical expertise and knowledge to help us delve deeper into Biochar as a soil amendment, its benefits and limitations, and how WMG will be innovatively utilising it within the Future Carbon Project.
For more information on Biochar, the Future Carbon Project or any of Zahangir’s work, be sure to get in contact with us at comms@wmgroup.org.au