FORESTCHAR
Valorization of forest residues for the production of biochar and its application in agriculture: moving towards a Economics in Navarre
The increase in forest fires in recent years is closely linked to climate change and the accumulation of biomass in the mountains. To address this problem, theFORESTCHAR project proposes a circular solution: using pruning waste and organic residues to produce biochar, a material with high value for agriculture. This biochar is activated with compost—both agricultural and from household waste—with the goal creating fertilizers adapted to the soils and climate of Navarre and the Ebro Basin, while reducing the risk of fires and improving management .
In addition to improving soil quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, biochar stands out for its ability to capture carbon for centuries. The project remote sensing, agronomic analysis, and field trials to assess its real viability, with the challenge producing effective, safe, and scalable biochar that benefits both the agricultural sector and the environment.
main goal
FERTILIZER SOLUTIONS
Assess the possibilities of new fertilizer solutions obtained from combining biochar from local biomass with two types of compost: the first is commonly used by the business on its farmland, and the second is made from the contents of the fifth container of the Pamplona Regional Association, which exclusively collects household organic waste, in what is a clear example of a win-win strategy.
Specific objectives
Develop a methodology based on remote sensing to estimate the forest biomass that can be used for biochar production.
Comprehensively characterize the residual biomass, biochar produced, and organic activators used to determine their agronomic capacity and toxicity, ensuring their suitability and compliance with regulatory standards.
Determine the agronomic capacity of biochar, alone or in combination with activator composts, to promote development , reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve soil structure.
Calculate the carbon footprint and assess the environmental improvement compared to soil without biochar application, taking into account biochar's capacity to act as a CO2 sink, directly contributing to soil carbonization and preventing these emissions from reaching the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.
Principal investigator
Team researcher
Duration:
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2027
Funding:
541,485.71 euros
Grants for SINAI agents to carry out research and development projects 2024. department University, Innovation, and Digital Transformation of the Government of Navarra
Location:
Navarra.
core topic
WHY IS THIS project NECESSARY?
In recent years, climate change—with higher temperatures and less rainfall—together with the accumulation of biomass in forests has led to a sharp increase in forest fires. The failure to make use of pruning debris, undergrowth, and forest waste means that they become fuel for fires and an environmental problem for many rural areas. FORESTCHAR was created to address this dual challenge: reducing the risk of fires and providing a sustainable solution for a large amount of waste that is currently not being managed efficiently.
WHAT SOLUTIONS IS THE project EXPLORING?
The project to transform this local biomass into biochar, a material similar to charcoal that is obtained through pyrolysis and has great benefits for the soil. This biochar is combined with different types of compost—both agricultural and from household organic waste—to create natural fertilizers adapted to the conditions of Navarra and the Ebro Basin. These solutions not only improve soil structure, its capacity to retain water and nutrients, and development , but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon in a stable form for centuries, helping to slow global warming.
how does this project affect society?
FORESTCHAR has a positive impact on several levels. On the one hand, it contributes to safer forests by reducing the excess biomass that fuels fires. On the other hand, it promotes more sustainable agriculture, with healthier soils, less dependence on chemical fertilizers, and less water and air pollution. In addition, it promotes the Economics by converting waste into useful products with commercial potential, generating environmental, social, and economic benefits for the region and moving toward a model resilient to climate change.
Collaborating entities
