UK Nuffield Scholar Explores Biochar Production on Global Study Tour

Nuffield Farming Scholar, Luke Breedon, is currently on an international study tour, with his recent stop being in the North Island of New Zealand. The main focus of his research is the production and application of biochar in horticulture and agriculture.

Exploring Biochar as a Sustainable Alternative

As a sustainable substitute for fossil fuel-based fertilizers, biochar offers numerous benefits, not only for New Zealand farmers but also for those from the UK. Recognized as a negative emissions technology by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, biochar can effectively store up to half the carbon in its source material for hundreds to thousands of years.

Global Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Breedon is one of the 19 fortunate recipients of the UK Nuffield Scholarship awarded in 2023. His study tour includes visiting biochar producers around the world to learn from global experts and share this knowledge back home. After visiting producers in the United States, his current stop is New Zealand, and Australia is next on his itinerary.

Role of Biochar in New Zealand's Agriculture

In New Zealand, biochar, made from forestry residues, is being used for regenerative agriculture applications, including soil and water quality improvement, productivity enhancement, and dependency reduction on fertilizers and irrigation. Organizations in the country are actively promoting the use of biochar. They are conducting research, providing biochar to school and community gardens, collaborating with soil specialists, and advising farmers and growers on the benefits of increased soil carbon.

Breedon's exploration focuses on the economic production of biochar, its role in the carbon market, and effective knowledge transfer methods that could be suitable for the UK. His study forms part of an initiative to innovate and communicate developments in agriculture that contribute to achieving net-zero farming and provide multiple benefits.