Biochar production is an innovative and sustainable way to turn agricultural waste into something useful instead of burning it in open fields, which creates smoke and pollutes the air. Biochar is a charcoal-like material rich in carbon, created by heating plant material with very little oxygen in a process called pyrolysis, which produces very little smoke.
Biochar can benefit agriculture and the environment in many ways. It helps improve soil quality, increases the soil’s ability to hold water and nutrients, supports healthy root and microbial growth, and can help capture and store carbon in the soil. It can also help reduce pollution by trapping heavy metals and harmful chemicals in soil and water. In addition, biochar has potential uses in renewable energy and advanced materials.
This video demonstrates how biochar can be produced locally using agricultural prunings through a simple and efficient method known as the “Ring of Fire” technique in a Kon-Tiki kiln. In this process, organic material is burned in layers under controlled conditions to create biochar instead of ash. This low-cost technology is easy to use in agricultural settings and allows farmers to transform waste into a valuable resource directly on-site.
This event took place at the ESA campus in Ponte de Lima, with the presence of the school director, as well as faculty and students from agriculture and environmental engineering. Representatives from the Escola Profissional de Agricultura (EPA), including the director, faculty, and students, also joined the event.
A short video of large-scale biochar production in Bolivia is also included.
