The biochar ecosystem is noisier than ever — in the best way — but I’ve been headdown charting the course for USBI to help markets grow as we advocate for clarity and consistency. In the months ahead, we’re zeroing in on the work that we believe really drives market growth: standards, accessible pathways for adoption, and practical tools that help producers, end users, and policymakers make informed decisions.
At the center of this next phase is a simple premise: broader adoption happens when biochar is explained in terms that matter to end users. Adoption doesn’t grow because we say biochar is important — it grows when people can see how it solves the problems in front of them. Farmers, stormwater engineers, and transportation agencies don’t need a pitch about biochar’s promise; they need clear evidence that it can improve performance, reduce costs, and strengthen their operations. And once they see that, they need practical guidance on how to source it and use it effectively.
With that in mind, we are reframing our work to focus on the particular needs of different market segments and identifying leverage points that can accelerate adoption. In stormwater and landscape design those leverage points are engineers and landscape architects — so we are working to develop guidance manuals tailored for these professionals. In the potting media space, we are connecting major corporations and smaller companies with biochar producers who can supply the right type of biochar for their needs. And in agriculture, we are building out the Biochar Atlas and hosting regional “Growing with Biochar” events to give agronomists and farmers the confidence they need to give biochar a try.
Standards provide the structural foundation for our efforts above. With ANSI / USBI S668 now completed, our next steps include two more ANSI standards in the next year: one focused on data reporting and availability for physical biochar, and the other defining “do-no-harm” end-use standards to ensure that biochar does not create real or perceived problems.
We’ll continue promoting the potential of biochar; however, our main focus now and into the future is to make biochar more accessible, effective, and deployable for end-users.
