Biochar for Grassroots Development

Teo HumkeyHaley SchlageterSeth NeumannCameron Montalvo

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html

Haitians

Population: ~10 million people Population Density: ~700 people/mi.² French forestry practices detrimental to environment

beginning in 1697. First post-colonial sovereign nation after slave led revolt in

1804. Hit by a 7.0 magnitude and a 6.3 earthquake in 2010 that

killed up to 300,000. Hurricanes, Tropical storms, Earthquakes are fairly common

occurrences. Poorest Country in the western hemisphere. 41% of the population was unemployed in 2010. ¾ of population lives on $2 a day or less.

Haitians

According to the C.I.A. 'Fact Book' : 30.8% of Haitian labor force is involved in agriculture but up

to as much of 60% make some money of the land. Coffee, mangoes, cocoa, sugarcane, rice, sorghum, wood, and

vetiver (bunchgrass used for oil production). 20% of the labor force is involved in industries. Textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly

using imported parts. 53% make up the service industry. Primarily informal sector including vendors, shoe shiners,

artists, fisherman, etc.

Haitians and Us:Do our goals align?

0.31 x 4.8 million people = ~1.5 million people Plenty of people that this technology can reach. 80% of college graduates from Haiti live abroad. Haiti is in need of brain power. People not unfamiliar with charred materials. (Slash and Burn) Asking people to add Biochar in dirt should natural. Need solutions for fertility (no surplus present) and erosion. Biochar can give quick results. Leading cause of deforestation is fuel needs. Biochar Charcoal and Charcoal + Cook stoves = Efficiency

150 mm = ~6 inches

22°C = ~ 72°F

Potential Benefits

Increase or decrease flow of H20 through soil as necessary.

Remove pollutants (eg. Heavy Metals).

Improve microbial life of soil.

Sequester Carbon. Increase yields in crops. Scalability

Biomass to Biochar

Biochar to Appropriate Technology

Potential Concerns and Issues Economic viability (price).

Ability and Willingness to buy? Must have ties to production

to access? How might this affect

potential dissemination? Carbon sequestration

Complicate process for smallholders?

Environmental impact Sustainability of feedstock? Accelerate deforestation to

fuel large-scale biochar production?

Things to remember

Safety Concerns: Cholera and other diseases Earthquakes, Hurricanes,

etc.

Work Concerns: Lacking Infrastructure Ranked 143 of 148

countries in NRI.