International Biochar Initiative

The International Biochar Initiative (IBI) states that its mission is to "to promote the development of biochar systems that follow Cradle to Grave sustainability guidelines."About Us, IBI website, accessed 30 Nov 2009
The IBI describes its founding as follows:
:The International Biochar Initiative (IBI) was formed in July 2006 at a side meeting held at the World Soil Science Congress (WSSC) in Philadelphia, PA. At the 2006 meeting, individuals and representatives from academic institutions, commercial ventures, investment bankers, non-governmental organizations, federal agency representatives, and the policy arena from around the world acknowledged a common interest in promoting the research, development, demonstration, deployment (RDD&D) and commercialization of the promising technology of biochar production.About Us, IBI website, accessed 30 Nov 2009
The IBI has many members from the biochar industry (see "People", below).
==Activities==
In the runup to the COP15 climate talks in Copenhagen, fourteen governments have signed up to a call from the IBI for biochar to play a significant role in a post-2012 climate change agreement and in carbon trading.Helena Paul et al., [Agriculture and climate change: Real problems, false solutions], Preliminary report by Econexus, Biofuelwatch, Grupo de Reflexikon Rural and NOAH - Friends of the Earth Denmark, Sept 2009, p.19 
However, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned that biochar is "a new and poorly understood technology"; that feedstock for large-scale biomass (the raw materials from which biochar is made) is likely to come from biofuels, i.e. dedicated crop and tree plantations, a usage that should be approached "with great caution"; and that impacts on biodiversity and long-term agricultural sustainability are unknown.Trumper et al., The Natural Fix?, UNEP, June 2009, p. 37
==History==
==People==
As at November 2009 IBI Board Members include:Board and advisory committee, IBI website, accessed 29 Nov 2009
* Johannes Lehmann, Chairman of the Board, NY, USA
* Stephen Joseph, Vice-Chairman of the Board and Technical Director, NSW, Australia
* Ellen Baum, Treasurer, MA, USA
* David Wayne, UK
As at November 2009 IBI Advisory Committee Members are:Board and advisory committee, IBI website, accessed 29 Nov 2009
*Jim Amonette, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, United States
*Perses Bilimoria, The Society of Biochar Initiatives, India
*Robert Brown, Iowa State University, Bioeconomy Institute, United States
*Lopa Brunjes, Biochar Engineering Corporation, United States
*Leonard Bull, Bull Mountain Enterprises Inc, United States
*Marta Camps Arbestain, New Zealand Biochar Research Centre, based at Massey University, New Zealand
*Annette Cowie, National Centre for Rural Greenhouse Gas Research/University of New England, Australia
*Brian Davies, Brincad Technologies, Canada
*Adriana Downie, Pacific Pyrolysis, Australia
*Nikolaus Foidl, Venearth, Australia/Austria
*Jim Fournier, Biochar Engineering Corporation, United States
*Karl Frogner, UB International, Mongolia and United States
*John Gaunt, Carbon Consulting LLC, United States
*Gerry Gillespie, Zero Waste Australia, Australia
*Mark Glover, Renewed Carbon, Australia
*Loraine K. Green, Private Consultant, United States
*Stephan Haefele, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines
*Lloyd Helferty, Canadian Biochar Initiative (CBI), Biochar Ontario; Biochar Consulting, Canada
*Tony Hunt, Transfield Services Pty Limited, Australia
*Ian Ireland, Prairie BioGas Ltd. (PBL), Canada
*Jim Ireland, Prairie BioGas Ltd. (PBL), Canada
*Davey Jones, Environment Centre Wales, United Kingdom
*John Kimble, Soil Consultant (Retired NRCS Research Scientist), United States
*Evelyn Krull, *CSIRO, Australia
*David Laird, *USDA/ARS, United States
*Chad Lipton, *Elysian Energy, United States
*David Manning, Newcastle University (Institute for Research on Environment & Sustainability), United Kingdom
*Mike Mason, Founder of *ClimateCare, now *JPMorgan ClimateCare, United Kingdom
*John Mathews, LUISS Guido Carli University, Italy
*Franco Miglietta, *Institute of Biometeorology (IBIMET), Italy
*Etelvino Henrique Novotny, Embrapa Soils (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), Brazil
*Peter Read, Massey University, New Zealand
*James Rust, Independent Farmer, Paraguay and Brazil
*Salim Mayeki Shaban, *African Christians Organization Network, Kenya
*Simon Shackley, UK Biochar Research Centre (UKBRC), University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
*Karen Siepen, Renewable Caron Resources Australia (RCRA), Australia
*Saran Sohi, UK Biochar Research Centre (UKBRC), University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
*Douglas M. VanThorre, TekGar, LLC, United States
*Ken Williamson, SymbiFlo Ltd, United Kingdom
==Funding==
==Affiliations==
Member of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency PartnershipInternational Biochar Initiative, REEEP website, accessed 1 Dec 2009
==Publications==
==Contact==
:Address: 26 Hillside Terrace, 10533 Irvington, United States of America
:Phone: 914 693 0496 
:Email: info(AT)biochar-international.org
:Website: http://www.biochar-international.org
==Resources==
*Biochar
*Biochar Lobby
==Notes==
Category:ClimateCategory:BiofuelsCategory:Biochar