The National Center for Appropriate Technology’s Biochar Policy Project was created in 2019 to support development of a carbon-negative biochar and biofuel industry that creates good jobs and opportunity in rural America, while sequestering carbon and building soil health and productivity.   

The project works with farm groups, conservation organizations, soil scientists, farmers, ranchers and foresters that think an important solution can be found in a porous black shred of carbon called biochar.

The project is addressing three critical barriers:  

• Critical knowledge gaps on biochar must be filled. 
• Barriers to private investment in launching the industry must be lowered. 
• A reliable supply chain of sustainable biomass feedstock must be developed. 

The project is led by Chuck Hassebrook, who previously served 36 years with the Center for Rural Affairs, including 17 years as its executive director. It is represented in Washington by Bev Paul of Davenport Policy and Ferd Hoefner of Farm, Food, Environment Policy Consulting.  Each brings decades of experience, Bev with Gordley Associates and Ferd as policy director and lead Washington representative of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.