Biochar Integration in Small-Holder Cropping Systems – Economy, Food Product Value Chains, Climate Change Resilience and Soil Fertility

Biochar integration in small-holder agriculture is a transformative adaptation of the food production system to achieve climate mitigation, climate resilience and sustainable intensification.

The BICEPS project aim to quantify the contribution of biochar to climate change resilience, improved food security and profitability in agriculture and to close knowledge gaps on biochar function in the soil-crop system.

The BICEPS consortium consist of a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from Sweden, Norway, Kenya and South Africa spanning system analysis, agronomy, soil science, agricultural economy, food technology and microbiology.

We will interact with farming communities in Kenya and South Africa and test biochar integration in on-farm trials and farming communities.

We will study (1) the climate change mitigation effect of biochar using life-cycle analysis (LCA), (2) the cost-benefit of biochar integration and the impacts along the food value chains, (3) the interaction between biochar and the nitrogen cycle in the cropping system and (4) the importance of biochar-soil-water-crop interaction for improved climate resilience, e.g. drought resistance.

SLU is responsible for the LCA and nitrogen components. Our results will guide agricultural extension and policy development on biochar integration in farming systems. Increased use of biochar can contribute to Agenda2030, SDG1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG13: Climate Action.