Markets, Production, and Growth of the US Biochar Industry.

This presentation will describe the US biochar industry as it emerges from small to large scale production and distribution. Biochar products and markets are being developed by many individuals and small enterprises that use carbonization systems that are still too small to sustain commercial production in industrial, forest or field applications. Producers have experienced the challenges and opportunities of starting new business in markets with many competing products. Production has increased as markets have developed in retail gardening, horticulture, remediation and stormwater filtration. Distribution has evolved from limited bulk deliveries to research facilities and packaged retail garden products sold through stores and virtual markets, to truckloads of biochar delivered by industrial producers and brokers for landscaping, tree care, and soil remediation. Biochar is being used to enhance nutrient sources such as compost and as a carrier for bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides. Established producers of barbeque charcoal and activated carbon are also beginning to produce biochar. Future biochar production will grow as co-products of energy including liquid fuels.