The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Nebraska Forest Service and Nebraska Biochar Initiative hosted participants passionate about the future of biochar at the first Great Plains Biochar Conference Sept. 24 to 26 at the Graduate Hotel in Lincoln.
Co-sponsored by the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research and Carbon Dynamics, the conference offered more than 70 attendees from across the Midwest and beyond to engage and discuss biochar’s growing environmental and socio-economic relevance as a promising multi-purpose material.
The conference brought together professionals working with biochar in sectors such as research, education, governmental programs, policy support, agricultural and urban applications, material characterization, organics recycling, soil and water remediation, carbon sequestration and biochar economics.
The broad spectrum of attendees working with biochar was reflected in 29 oral and poster presentations and one-panel discussion.
The organization team including Kim Slezak of the Nebraska Forest Service, Frank Uhlarik, a senior environmental project manager with Stantec, Nash Leef, owner of Flatwater Biochar, and Michael Kaiser, an assistant professor in agronomy and horticulture, looks forward to establishing the conference as a biochar discussion and innovation hub to support the growing relevance of biochar in the Great Plains.
