Biochar as an agrifood innovation: evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes
This report examines biochar as an agrifood innovation within circular bioeconomy and multifunctional landscape frameworks, with a focus on its relevance for smallholder agriculture in the Global South. Produced from organic residues through thermochemical processes, biochar offers a pathway to rest...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Informe técnico |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
International Water Management Institute
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180325 |
| _version_ | 1855532691700580352 |
|---|---|
| author | Somorin, Tosin Akanno, C. Osei-Amponsah, Charity Gebrezgabher, Solomie A. Mupangwa, Walter Adamtey, Noah Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Lord, R. Ennis, C. Zhang, X. Fletcher, A. Lue, L. Li, J. |
| author_browse | Adamtey, Noah Akanno, C. Ennis, C. Fletcher, A. Gebrezgabher, Solomie A. Li, J. Lord, R. Lue, L. Mupangwa, Walter Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Osei-Amponsah, Charity Somorin, Tosin Zhang, X. |
| author_facet | Somorin, Tosin Akanno, C. Osei-Amponsah, Charity Gebrezgabher, Solomie A. Mupangwa, Walter Adamtey, Noah Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Lord, R. Ennis, C. Zhang, X. Fletcher, A. Lue, L. Li, J. |
| author_sort | Somorin, Tosin |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | This report examines biochar as an agrifood innovation within circular bioeconomy and multifunctional landscape frameworks, with a focus on its relevance for smallholder agriculture in the Global South. Produced from organic residues through thermochemical processes, biochar offers a pathway to restore degraded soils, valorize waste, and support climate mitigation and adaptation. Evidence shows that biochar can improve soil structure, nutrient retention, and water-holding capacity, enhancing crop resilience in sandy and drought-prone environments while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. However, its effectiveness is highly context-dependent. Outcomes vary with feedstock quality, production technology, soil conditions, and application practices. Risks include inconsistent agronomic performance, potential contamination, feedstock competition, and uncertain climate benefits when full life-cycle impacts are overlooked. Slow pyrolysis is the most suitable option for low-cost, rural settings, while advanced technologies remain less accessible. Biochar is therefore neither a silver bullet nor a flawed concept, but a promising tool whose benefits depend on careful design, regulation, and integration into locally appropriate, inclusive systems. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace180325 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | International Water Management Institute |
| publisherStr | International Water Management Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1803252026-01-22T04:17:59Z Biochar as an agrifood innovation: evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes Somorin, Tosin Akanno, C. Osei-Amponsah, Charity Gebrezgabher, Solomie A. Mupangwa, Walter Adamtey, Noah Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Lord, R. Ennis, C. Zhang, X. Fletcher, A. Lue, L. Li, J. resource recovery resource management reuse waste management biochar agrifood systems innovation systems agricultural landscape agricultural soils soil quality soil fertility organic wastes climate change mitigation climate change adaptation climate resilience soil water retention nutrient availability biomass carbon sequestration soil organic carbon feedstocks business models smallholders farmers small-scale farming circular economy bioeconomy technology pyrolysis risk regulations Global South This report examines biochar as an agrifood innovation within circular bioeconomy and multifunctional landscape frameworks, with a focus on its relevance for smallholder agriculture in the Global South. Produced from organic residues through thermochemical processes, biochar offers a pathway to restore degraded soils, valorize waste, and support climate mitigation and adaptation. Evidence shows that biochar can improve soil structure, nutrient retention, and water-holding capacity, enhancing crop resilience in sandy and drought-prone environments while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. However, its effectiveness is highly context-dependent. Outcomes vary with feedstock quality, production technology, soil conditions, and application practices. Risks include inconsistent agronomic performance, potential contamination, feedstock competition, and uncertain climate benefits when full life-cycle impacts are overlooked. Slow pyrolysis is the most suitable option for low-cost, rural settings, while advanced technologies remain less accessible. Biochar is therefore neither a silver bullet nor a flawed concept, but a promising tool whose benefits depend on careful design, regulation, and integration into locally appropriate, inclusive systems. 2025-12-30 2026-01-21T18:03:08Z 2026-01-21T18:03:08Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180325 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute Somorin, T.; Akanno, C.; Osei-Amponsah, C.; Gebrezgabher, S.; Mupangwa, W.; Adamtey, N.; Nartey, E. G.; Lord, R.; Ennis, C.; Zhang, X.; Fletcher, A.; Lue, L.; Li, J. 2025. Biochar as an agrifood innovation: evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 76p. (Resource Recovery and Reuse Series 27). doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2025.253 |
| spellingShingle | resource recovery resource management reuse waste management biochar agrifood systems innovation systems agricultural landscape agricultural soils soil quality soil fertility organic wastes climate change mitigation climate change adaptation climate resilience soil water retention nutrient availability biomass carbon sequestration soil organic carbon feedstocks business models smallholders farmers small-scale farming circular economy bioeconomy technology pyrolysis risk regulations Global South Somorin, Tosin Akanno, C. Osei-Amponsah, Charity Gebrezgabher, Solomie A. Mupangwa, Walter Adamtey, Noah Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Lord, R. Ennis, C. Zhang, X. Fletcher, A. Lue, L. Li, J. Biochar as an agrifood innovation: evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes |
| title | Biochar as an agrifood innovation: evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes |
| title_full | Biochar as an agrifood innovation: evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes |
| title_fullStr | Biochar as an agrifood innovation: evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biochar as an agrifood innovation: evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes |
| title_short | Biochar as an agrifood innovation: evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes |
| title_sort | biochar as an agrifood innovation evidence and lessons for integration into agricultural landscapes |
| topic | resource recovery resource management reuse waste management biochar agrifood systems innovation systems agricultural landscape agricultural soils soil quality soil fertility organic wastes climate change mitigation climate change adaptation climate resilience soil water retention nutrient availability biomass carbon sequestration soil organic carbon feedstocks business models smallholders farmers small-scale farming circular economy bioeconomy technology pyrolysis risk regulations Global South |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180325 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT somorintosin biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT akannoc biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT oseiamponsahcharity biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT gebrezgabhersolomiea biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT mupangwawalter biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT adamteynoah biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT narteyericgbenatey biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT lordr biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT ennisc biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT zhangx biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT fletchera biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT luel biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes AT lij biocharasanagrifoodinnovationevidenceandlessonsforintegrationintoagriculturallandscapes |