Biochar is a carbon-rich, stable soil improver formed as a by-product of pyrolysis from wood residues, manure and agricultural waste. In the soil it stabilises photosynthetic carbon and limits other greenhouse gas emissions. For the agriculture and land use sector in Gelderland the reduction potential comes to 0.002 to 0.004 Mton CO₂-eq in 2030. On treated land, crop yields are about 18% higher according to IPCC figures.
The direct climate effect is modest, but the solution is promising mainly for the soil gains on vulnerable Gelderland sandy soils. On the Veluwe, in the IJssel delta and the Achterhoek, acidification and leaching lead to tree mortality and biodiversity loss; it is precisely there that biochar limits the leaching of nutrients. The pairing of higher yields with storage of stable carbon makes the measure attractive for arable farming on poor soils. Source: Climate Action Recap Gelderland (agriculture and land use sector analysis), New Economy.