FOREBIOM

The 1st FOREBIOM Workshop:
Potentials of Biochar to mitigate climate change

Biochar is seen as a potential solution for mitigating climate change. In theory, additional carbon might be sequestered when using biochar as a soil amendment and the process heat during pyrolysis is directly used or converted to electricity via ORC. Bio-oil might be used alternatively to substitute fossil fuels. However, a range of issues is still not clear and further research is needed in various disciplines. The first FOREBIOM workshop, organized back-to-back with the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (7th - 12. April 2013) aims at assessing the potential of biochar production for energy and subsequently as an soil amendment to improve soil properties. Current research is presented by internationally recognized researchers from leading institutions (UK biochar research center, GFZ Potsdam, IIASA, AIT...) and target areas of increased need for further research will be identified. The first day is devoted to four sessions with keynotes, and presentations covering the tree sections of the FOREBIOM project, namely: Biomass production, Biomass pyrolysis and Biochar recycling.

Participation is free of charge!

Scientific programme

	DAY 01 (4th of April, 2013)
08:30 - 09:00	Registration @ Austrian Academy of Sciences
09:00 - 10:30	PLENARY SESSION Chairperson: Dr. Viktor Bruckman
09:00 - 09:05	Opening Remarks Prof. Dr. Helmut Denk, President, Austrian Academy of Sciences
09:05 - 09:10	Welcoming Remarks by the FOREBIOM consortium Dr. Viktor Bruckman, Ass.Prof. Jay Liu, Assoc.Prof. Basak Burcu Uzun, Ass.Prof. Esin Varol (Austria, South Korea, Turkey)
09:10 - 09:30	Introduction of the FOREBIOM Project Dr. Viktor Bruckman, Austrian Academy of Sciences
09:30 - 09:50	IUFRO - Forest research cooperation worldwide and across disciplines Mag. Gerda Wolfrum, International Union of Forest Research Organizations, Austria
09:50 - 10:10	Biochar - Building Synergies Between Soil Fertility, Renewable Energy Production, and Carbon Sequestration Dr. Christoph Steiner, Consulting services, Biochar.org, Austria
10:10 - 10:30	Charcoal production and utilization in Thailand Dr. Maliwan Haruthaithanasan, Kasetsart University, Thailand
10:30 - 11:00	Coffee break & poster viewing
11:00 - 12:30	SESSION I: Forest Biomass resources for biochar production Chairperson: Mr. Florian Kraxner, MSc.
11:00 - 11:20	Sustainable forest biomass potentials versus future demands in Europe (tentative title) Mr. Florian Kraxner, MSc., International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria
11:20 - 11:40	Sustainable forest biomass potentials in Austria Dr. Michael Englisch, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Austria
11:40 - 12:00	Coppice forestry and biomass resources in Austria Prof. Eduard Hochbichler, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
12:00 - 12:20	What technology for biofuel production in EU? Dr. Sylvian Leduc, International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria
12:20 - 12:30	Discussion
12:30 - 13:30	Lunch break & poster viewing
13:30 - 15:00	SESSION II: Biomass pyrolysis Chairperson: Prof. Basak Burcu Uzun
13:30 - 13:50	Pyrolysis: A sustainable way from biomass to bio-fuels and bio-char Assoc.Prof. Basak Burcu Uzun, Anadolu University, Turkey
13:50 - 14:10	The etablisment of a biochar-production facility from waste CEO Gerald Dunst, Sonnenerde, Austria
14:10 - 14:30	Biomass pyrolysis and biochar characterization Prof. Frederik Ronsse, Ghent University, Belgium
14:30 - 14:50	Investigating the Influence of Production Conditions on the Energy Distribution Between the Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Products of Slow Pyrolysis Kyle Crombie, UK Biochar Research Centre, United Kingdom
14:50 - 15:00	Discussion
15:00 - 15:30	Coffee break & poster viewing
15:30 - 17:00	SESSION III: Biochar and soil Chairperson: Dr. Franz Zehetner
15:30 - 15:50	Effects of biochar application on soil functions: results from lab incubations, greenhouse pot experiments and field trials Dr. Franz Zehetner, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
15:50 - 16:10	Rhizosphere effects of carboniferous and clay compounds in a sandy matrix Dr. Bernd Uwe Schneider, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, GFZ, Germany
16:10 - 16:30	Biochar as yield promoter for agricultural crops? Conjectures and observations Dr. Gerhard Soja, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Austria
16:30 - 16:50	Biochar arrests soil organic nitrogen cycling but promotes nitrification Dr. Rebecca Hood-Nowotny, University of Vienna, Austria
16:50 - 17:00	Discussion, Organizational Remarks, closing day 1
17:00 - 18:00	Free time
18:00 - 19:00	Guided City tour (from workshop venue to restaurant "Augustinerkeller")
19:00	Social Dinner (Augustinerkeller)
	DAY 02 ( 5th of April, 2013)
09:00 - 12:30	SESSION IV: FOREBIOM Workshop Chairperson: Dr. Viktor Bruckman
09:00 - 09:30	Wrap-up of day 01, input for workshop discussions
09:30 - 10:30	Workshop part 1 - Group discussions following the World Cafe Method. The following questions will be addressed: - What are the premises for biochar production and utilization to help mitigate climate change? - How about potential dangers and disadvantages for the environment when extending biochar production and utilization globally? -Where do we need more research and what are currently the main obstacles to put biochar on the market?
10:30 - 11:00	Coffee break & poster viewing
11:00 - 12:00	Workshop part 2 - Presentation of findings by the respective group hosts and final discussion
12:00 - 12:30	Presentation of Workshop results and group discussion
12:30	Closing remarks
13:00 - 18:00	Excursion to "Sonnenerde", Austria`s 1st commercial biochar production facility.
	End of the 1st FOREBIOM Workshop
	POSTER Programme (during both days)
Poster 1	Centennial time scale effects of large incorporation of pyrogenic Carbon in soils: Carbon sequestration and soil fertility Dr. Irene Criscuoli, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Italy
Poster 2	Influence of herbicides on the respiration of charcoal-affected forest soil Ms. Astrid Fajtak, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
Poster 3	Bio-briquetting and char production in Nepal Mr. Shalabh Poudyal, Tribhuwan University, Nepal
Poster 4	Pyrolysis of Almond Shell: Product Yields and Chemical Activation of Chars Ass.Prof. Esin Apaydin Varol, Anadolu University, Turkey
Poster 5	Experiences with biochar in horticulture Roland Kariger MSc., University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
Poster 6	Forest Biomass Potential in Thailand Ass.Prof. Roongreang Poolsiri, Kasetsart University, Thailand
Poster 7	Forest waste biomass as a means of producing innovative charring retort: some empirical evidences from Nepal Dr. Dharam Uprety, Multi Stakeholder Forestry Programme, Nepal

Conference proceedings are available for download!

Conference registration and abstract submission

Conference registration is free of charge. Upon registration, registered participants will receive the book of abstracts, and other conference materials. Please register using the following form. Prior to registration, download the abstract template to facilitate abstract submission. The scientific committee will evaluate the abstracts and schedule them as oral or poster presentation, depending on the scientific quality and match with the session topics.

 

Your registration is complete once you receive a confirmation from the organizing secretariat.

Presentation submission and poster format details

If your contribution was scheduled as an oral presentation, you are asked to submit it in powerpoint or PDF format no later than 1st of April, 2013. In case your contribution was scheduled as poster presentation, you are required to set the poster up during the registration period (04.04.2013, 08:30-09:00). The format is A0 portrait and poster boards as well as fixing materials will be provided.