BIOSAL EURECAT

Application of biochar in regenerative agriculture.

BIOSAL applies biochar in regenerative agriculture, promoting the circular bioeconomy and improving soil health.

This initiative addresses significant environmental challenges, such as poor soil quality, dependence on chemical fertilisers and inefficient management of organic and forestry residues.

Biochar, produced through the pyrolysis of plant residues, has the capacity to enhance soil quality, increase soil biodiversity and reduce the need for chemical inputs. Furthermore, it contributes to climate change mitigation by capturing carbon and improving soil structure.

The project evaluates the properties of biochar and other organic amendments in compliance to current regulations, and also quantifies its impact on physical, chemical and biological soil indicators, increasing agricultural productivity.

The expected results of BIOSAL include an increase in the soil’s water retention capacity, enhanced microbial biodiversity and higher agricultural productivity, while promoting more sustainable and less chemically dependent farming practices.

The BIOSAL consortium is led by the Drissa Foundation, coordinated by the Bioenergy Cluster of Catalonia (CBC) and has the participation of Eurecat through the Water, Air and Soil (WAS) Unit and the Idària cooperative.

General details

Project

BIOSAL – Application of biochar in regenerative agriculture: promoting the circular bioeconomy to improve soil health

Programme and call for tender

Project funded by the operational groups call of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-Agri) (intervention 7161), within the framework of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

Related ODS

Improving agricultural productivity: BIOSAL promotes more sustainable agricultural practices that can increase food production through improved soil health, increased microbial biodiversity and greater water retention capacity in the soil. These improvements can contribute to increasing agricultural efficiency and ensuring food security.

Circular bioeconomy: the project promotes the sustainable management of organic and forest waste by converting it into biochar, a useful material for soil improvement. This contributes to a circular economy, reducing waste and improving the sustainability of agricultural processes.

Decreased use of chemical fertilisers: The use of biochar in regenerative agriculture reduces dependence on chemical fertilisers, promoting cleaner and more responsible agricultural production.

Carbon capture: biochar has the capacity to capture carbon, thus contributing to the mitigation of climate change. In addition, improving soil structure promotes better storage of CO₂ and nitrogen in the soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Promotion of more sustainable agricultural practices: the project encourages the use of regenerative techniques that can help reduce the environmental impact of conventional agriculture.

Improved soil biodiversity: the use of biochar increases soil microbial biodiversity, creating a healthier and more resilient ecosystem. This contributes to soil regeneration and the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the promotion of environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

Mitigation of land degradation: the project addresses challenges related to low soil quality, which contributes to the conservation and improvement of terrestrial ecosystems.