A bit of a different backyard biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More post this week. I wanted to take some time to point out some of the networks that exist within the biochar space. When I first started learning about biochar, all I knew was academic papers (not a shock – I was a student at the time). Then as I learnt more, I reached out to people, different journals, news outlets, and organisations. From this, and a healthy dose of biochar YouTube videos, I began to tinker with biochar – just me, my barrels, and a stack of brash in the woods.

But the deeper I’ve gone, the more obvious it’s become: biochar is a community project. Every burn I make ties into a bigger web of people, from backyard gardeners and forestry workers to researchers and policy-makers. You don’t get far without leaning on that network.

Here are some of the groups that keep the wheels turning – and why talking across sectors really matters.

Biochar Today

*Shameless promotion.*

This one’s close to my heart, because it’s where I work. Biochar Today is all about connecting dots – between the backyard maker, the commercial grower, the academic researcher, and the curious neighbour. The site’s a mix of stories, how-to guides, interviews, and news from around the biochar world. For me, it’s also a reminder that people learn by sharing their experiments, not just their successes. A photo of a smoky barrel, a story about trying char on tomatoes, the promotion of an event – these snippets help stitch the global conversation together.

And on that note, if you do have a story or project that you think is newsworthy, reach out to me at ralph@biochartoday.com !!

International Biochar Initiative (IBI)

Think of IBI as the “global town square” of biochar. They bring together practitioners, researchers, and policy voices from every corner of the world. I’ve found their webinars and resources invaluable – not because they give you a magic recipe, but because they show you what’s possible elsewhere. For an enthusiast and micro-practitioner (becoming less comfortable with small scale producer) like me, it’s reassuring to see the bigger picture, and to know there are people tackling the same questions on very different scales. It should also be noted that the IBI have some incredible pages for people that are new to biochar. Their FAQs page, for example, is excellent and worth signposting to for accessibility.

UK Biochar Research Centre (UKBRC)

Closer to home, the UKBRC in Edinburgh has been a powerhouse for both science and practice. They’re not just publishing papers on how different feedstocks behave – they’re also working with landowners, NGOs, and community groups to put biochar into real fields and forests. I think of them as a bridge: on one side, you have controlled lab data; on the other, messy reality. UKBRC stands in the middle, translating. They are also trialling biochar projects and tests at three different scales, the first being a small batch scale of 30g; and the other two being more continuous, producing 2kg or 20kg per hour.

European Biochar Industry Consortium (EBI)

If IBI is the global square, EBI is the policy voice in Europe. They’re working to shape standards, promote awareness, and, importantly, make sure biochar doesn’t get sidelined in the climate solutions conversation. This matters more than we sometimes admit: if biochar is going to move beyond niche projects, it has to slot into funding systems, carbon markets, and agricultural support schemes. EBI’s role is making sure those doors don’t stay shut.

Great Lakes Biochar Network (US)

Even if you’re not in North America, the Great Lakes Biochar Network is worth a look. Based out of Michigan State University, they’re a model for how regional networks can work. Farmers, gardeners, and researchers connect through workshops and webinars, sharing local knowledge about what works in their soils and climates. That kind of place-based approach really resonates with me – because biochar isn’t a one-size-fits-all product, it’s always tied to local conditions.

And Beyond…

There are countless other groups – from study tours in Wales, to permaculture networks that experiment with char in compost, to specialist research teams in New Zealand and Australia. Just this week, I am on an IBI-organised study tour of UK biochar innovators. Nevertheless,it is less who’s on the list, and more that these groups exist and overlap. They make biochar feel less like an odd hobby and more like a movement.

Why Connection Counts

• Practical fixes: Got a damp feedstockFeedstock refers to the raw organic material used to produce biochar. This can include a wide range of materials, such as wood chips, agricultural residues, and animal manure. More problem? Someone out there has burned the same wood and can tell you how they handled it.
  
• New ideas: Researchers explain why something works; practitioners show how it works. The conversation between them is where real innovation comes alive.
  
• Scaling up: Local festivals, shared facilities, regional hubs—these are the places where biochar gains traction beyond a backyard barrel.

How to Jump In

• Browse Biochar Today for stories, events, and experiments.
  
• Sign up for IBI’s webinars or newsletters.
  
• If you’re UK-based, reach out to UKBRC for testing/projects.
  
• Keep an eye out for regional events, whether directly about biochar or adjacent.

Lasting View

Biochar isn’t just carbon in a barrel. It’s conversation, trial and error, and collective learning. Whether you’re swapping tips with a neighbour, attending a festival, or reading a research paper from halfway across the world, you’re part of a bigger cycle. And the more we talk, the more resilient – and impactful – biochar becomes.