Farmers Coop To Sequester Biochar, Sell Carbon Credits?

[Freerangefarmer]

If a group of farmers wanted to form a co-op to sequester carbon (biochar) in their fields and to thereby create and sell carbon credits that would help offset the cost of the creation of the biochar, how would they go about documenting the carbon credits that they created?

 

The formation of the co-op would spread the cost of the paperwork, equipment, testing, etc, out over all the farms.

 

Has anyone crunched the numbers on anything like this?

 

Free Range Farmer

[lemit]

My late brother managed double-circle co-ops for many years, and one of his duties as manager was to keep records for the members.

 

--lemit

[erich]

Hi FreeRange,

 

I would follow the trail of the credits for no-till and other C sequestering established practices That have been established at CCX and other voluntary Climate/Carbon groups.

 

Peter Weisberg of the Climate Trust is probably the farthest along with biochar provisions, He has been a speaker at two Biochar conferences.

 

"Peter Weisberg" <[email protected]>,

 

Soil Testing for carbon content is established , the elemental carbon in char will raise it, as with time the Wee Beasties will too. As with legislation for GHG soil emissions will also give additioal CO2e credits.

 

Building Soil Carbon is the bond that unities all political persuasions,

 

Soil Carbon Sequestration Standards Committee. Hosted by Monsanto, this group of diverse interests has been hammering out issues of definition, validation and protocol. These past months, this group have been pressing soil sequestration's roll for climate legislation to congress.

http://www.novecta.com/documents/Carbon-Standard.pdf

 

All political persuasions agree, building soil carbon is GOOD.

To Hard bitten Farmers, wary of carbon regulations that only increase their costs, Building soil carbon is a savory bone, to do well while doing good.

 

Biochar provides the tool powerful enough to cover Farming's carbon foot print while lowering cost simultaneously.

 

It's hard for most to revere microbes and fungus, but from our toes to our gums (onward), their balanced ecology is our health. The greater earth and soils are just as dependent, at much longer time scales. Our farming for over 10,000 years has been responsible for 2/3rds of our excess greenhouse gases. This soil carbon, converted to carbon dioxide, Methane & Nitrous oxide began a slow stable warming that now accelerates with burning of fossil fuel. Agriculture allowed our cultural accent and Agriculture will now prevent our descent.

Cheers,

Erich

[Freerangefarmer]

Erich,

 

Thanks. The Climate Trust looks like a good lead. I have e-mailed Peter Weisberg.

 

One of the next steps would be to run some numbers on the cost of buying/operating a mobile torrefaction system.

 

The Biochar 1000 does not appear to be for sale yet.

 

I'm looking for other high-tech as well as low tech solutions.

 

FRF

[maikeru]

Would be an excellent thing. Any idea on when the Biochar 1000 will be available commercially, even if in limited quantities?

[Freerangefarmer]

I have not received a response yet regarding the Biochar 1000.

 

Interesting article from Rodale:

 

Making carbon crediting really work for farmers | Rodale Institute

 

Making carbon crediting really work for farmers | Rodale Institute

 

FRF