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A fantastic report, Ron! Thank you very much.<br>
Having just been in Japan (Yokohama) a little over a week ago, I can
vouch for it being a "cash economy", however they do accept credit
cards almost everywhere too (~ and it is possible -- @ about 1 out
of 4 bank machines -- to get a cash advance from your credit
card...).<br>
I wish I could have stayed on longer and learned from the best in
Japan. I know that they have a very long history of using Biochar
going all the way back to the use of the Noborigama 登り窯 chambered
"climbing kilns" in Kyoto.<br>
(see, for instance, <a href="http://wn.com/climbing_kiln">http://wn.com/climbing_kiln</a>
video #2)<br>
(Will you have a chance to visit them? I believe that some can be
found at the former <i><b>Imperial Palace</b></i> on the west side
of Kyoto. I remember visiting them when I was in Kyoto about 10
years ago -- they are/were used for firing Raku pottery.)<br>
<br>
I've heard that Japanese organic coffee farmers are already heavy
users of a biochar-bokashi mix [~they ferment the waste coffee berry
meat with bokashi organisms and mix that with charcoal to produce a
superior fertilizer], as are Korean Natural Farmers, apparently
[they are also using Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)].<br>
(Unfortunately information about its use hasn't been disseminated
much beyond their own borders up until now... but, hopefully
"technology transfer" and scientific exchange will begin in earnest
from this point forward.)<br>
<br>
I would suggest that you try to find time to <b>visit a Garden
Centre</b>** while you are there. You will likely find that
Biochar or "charcoal" is being sold to consumers [and others] along
with the rest of the different "soil amendments"...<br>
(**The founder of <a href="http://5iveplanets.ning.com/"><i>5ivePlanets</i></a>
in Yokohama told me that she was able to get some Biochar from her
local garden centre in that city in order to make some "promotional
materials" for her event...)<br>
<br>
I really wish I could have been there with you, but this is one
event that I really could not afford to attend (unless I had
miraculously been sponsored to go).<br>
Glad to hear that Tom Miles (and family), John M, and Karl F. are
there with you. No surprise about all the folks from Australia
(CSIRO) being there... & it's good to know there are some people
from Europe there; and others from the US ~ along with the
"researchers from the Philippines, Korea, and Uganda".<br>
I know of ZERO people from Canada who are attending this,
unfortunately. (I'll have to check the online at the APBC site).<br>
<br>
It would be great if Biochar could get some serious funding from
organization like the ADB and/or FAO. [!]<br>
<br>
Great to hear about the success of “PacPyro” (formerly <i>BEST
Energies</i> Australia) too!<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72"> Lloyd Helferty, Engineering Technologist
Principal, Biochar Consulting (Canada)
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.biochar-consulting.ca">www.biochar-consulting.ca</a>
603-48 Suncrest Blvd, Thornhill, ON, Canada
905-707-8754; 647-886-8754 (cell)
Skype: lloyd.helferty
Steering Committee member, Canadian Biochar Initiative
President, Co-founder & CBI Liaison, Biochar-Ontario
Advisory Committee Member, IBI
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1404717">http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1404717</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42237506675">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42237506675</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://groups.google.com/group/biochar-ontario">http://groups.google.com/group/biochar-ontario</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.meetup.com/biocharontario/">http://www.meetup.com/biocharontario/</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://grassrootsintelligence.blogspot.com">http://grassrootsintelligence.blogspot.com</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.biochar.ca">www.biochar.ca</a>
Biochar Offsets Group: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2446475">http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2446475</a>
"Necessity may be the mother of invention, but innovators need to address problems before they become absolute necessities..."</pre>
<br>
On 2011-09-16 6:48 PM, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:rongretlarson@comcast.net">rongretlarson@comcast.net</a> wrote:
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<p>Biochar and stoves lists:</p>
<p> This to provide a short recap of the first two days of the
Asian Pacific Biochar Conference (APBC2011)</p>
<p> Maybe 100 persons here – maybe 75 to 80 percent
Japanese.. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> Regular contributors to these two lists who are here
include Tom Miles (and wife and son), John Miedema, and Karl
Frogner. Apologies to other list members I don't recognize.
At least 10 other people I judge from Australia (Stephen
Joseph, Lukas van Zwieten, Adraian Downie, and Annett Cowie
being some I knew previously). The final Plenary speaker of
first day was Evelyn Krull who gave a wonderful description
of the great Biochar work going on in Australia (all or mostly
CSIRO??). They are working with 104 different chars – and
identifying what makes each unique (temperature, species,
etc) </p>
<p> </p>
<p> I know two here from Europe – maybe a few more. Others
from US (not or rarely writing to these lists are IBI's Debbie
Reed and Johannes Lehmann). The names of presenters are
available at the APBC site. Two stoves/Biochar list
contributors who are in program but couldn't make it are
Kelpie Wilson and Jason Aramburo (and who are missed).</p>
<p> </p>
<p> The first day, Thursday, was in both Japanese and English
– with everyone having earphones for the alternating
translation need. The outstanding talk for me was by IBI's
Debbie Reed – giving an exciting summary of the growth of
IBI. About 11,000 hits on the website per month now - and 50%
are new first time users each month. Still plenty of growth
in Biochar technical literature, etc. Debbie gave more
background and status on the forthcoming IBI draft standards.
Last night, I attended part of an ad hoc meeting on the
standards – which should be available within weeks at the IBI
site (for four weeks comment period). Obviously a lot of
work has gone into these standards – but a lot more still to
be done.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Yesterday was all in 20 minute presentations in three
parallel tracks. The majority of the papers seemed to be
soil-production related. Unfortunately (my giving a talk) I
missed several coming from Lukas van Zwieten's NSW group on
success with N20 capture, but he says that is showing
continued importance. Quite a few talks that relate to the
Science article by Dr. Wardle; no firm answers yet – but
conversely I heard nothing that supports the Wardle contention
that Biochar causes excess CO2 release. Adriana Downie gave
several talks on her progress towards a new “PacPyro” firm
that has just received a major multi-million grant and is
going public. I enjoyed a talk on LCA given by CSIRO's
Annette Cowie.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Today I expect to learn a lot more about Japanese Biochar
work as we get back to a single Plenary format and
translation. Much evidence of Japan having done Biochar work
for a long time – with a government-sanctioned program since
the 1980's. Also Johannes is scheduled for 40 minutes. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> Many new people to meet. Have enjoyed especially two
potential funders from the ADB and FAO and researchers from
the Philippines, Korea, and Uganda. And of course many from
Japan. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> The city of Kyoto is exceptionally modern and well
maintained – a major tourist town. Prices seem close to
double those I am used to. A cash economy – with my having
major difficulties with no (presently valid) ATM card! Thanks
to three listed above who could take my check in exchange for
Yen! </p>
<p> </p>
<p> Questions?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ron<br>
</p>
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