Tag Archives: green
University Professors In US Receive Grant To Develop Biomass Conversion Project
Dan McCue Thursday, 25 July 2013 Professors David Domermuth and Ok-Youn Yu of Appalachian State University in the US have received a $45,000 grant from the N.C. Agricultural Foundation for a project to economically convert biomass to biofuel and useful biochar. Both professors are with the university’s Department of Technology and Environmental Design. The grant, along with a current grant from the EPA, is being used to complete the university’s bioshelter/greenhouse at the Watauga County Landfill where the biomass conversion will occur. When testing is complete, the project will move to the Energy Xchange in Spruce Pine and be used for public outreach and education. For the past four years, researchers at Appalachian have worked to develop the most economical method for converting agricultural and forest biomass to useable products and energy. “To test our system we are using wood chips, which are a plentiful resource in the mountains. Wood waste from wood processing also can be recycled into useful products. Any kind of biomass can be used in the system including agricultural waste, yard brush and even animal waste,” graduate assistant Miranda Harper said. Domermuth and Yu believe their research could be used by farm or forest owners and provide potential sources of revenue. A process called bio volatilization (BV) converts biomass into biochar, pyrolosis oil, fuel gas and heat. The biochar created from the BV process can be used as a soil additive to increase soil fertility and protect against soil-borne diseases. Biochar also improves water quality and reduces agricultural productivity and reduces nutrient leaching and soil acidity. The waste energy created from the BV process will be used to heat the university’s bioshelter/ greenhouse at the Watauga County Landfill. The fuel created will be used to run a generator to produce electricity for day lighting in the winter at the bioshelter/greenhouse. Domermuth’s and Yu’s research goals are to provide a sustainable energy source that can be used in the absence of sunlight (solar power) or wind (turbine power) as well as provide a potential revenue stream for farmers and forest owners. Assisting with the project are graduate assistant and researcher Miranda Harper, public relations manager Rebecca Meade, furnace/kiln expert Eric Reichard, greenhouse site manager Ray Sinclair, and greenhouse assistants John Holladay and Gabe Arrandt. For additional information: Appalachian State University Continue reading
Revealed: The Keys To Reducing The Impact Of Agriculture On Climate Change
Research published in the journal Science (5th July 2013) shows that allowing land use to be determined purely by agricultural markets results in considerable financial and environmental costs to the public. While the research has looked specifically at the UK, the same methods could be applied to any area of the world with similar results for many countries. Land use in most of Europe is dominated by agriculture. Nearly half the total annual value of EU agriculture is based on public financial support surpassing 70%, 40% and 30% in the case of Ireland, UK and Spain, respectively to name a few. The study demonstrates the importance of bringing ecosystem services into decision-making and to make full use of the potential gains from working with the natural environment and the underpinning biophysical processes. The study acknowledges that this does not come without practical challenges. A key challenge concerns the mechanics of securing the participation of farmers in delivering land-use changes to benefit society. A recommendation that the research team puts forward involves the reform of the European Union’s (EU’s) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Recasting the CAP as a Payment for Ecosystem Services mechanism would reward farmers for delivering a bundle of key of ecosystem services including climate change mitigation by the reduction of emission of greenhouse gases, water regulation, recreation and biodiversity conservation. “The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy must account for the cost of not working with nature. It is time to reward farmers for securing the vital ecosystem services that are highly valued by society. Farmers can be the stewards of our landscapes so that we as a society we can pass them in a healthy state to the next generations.” Continue reading
Impact Investor and Advocate Discusses Sustainable Farming and the Mitigation of Climate Change
Philippe van den Bossche, an impact investor and advocate, discusses how sustainable farming practices can mitigate climate change. New York, NY (PRWEB) July 24, 2013 On July 24, impact investor and advocate of sustainable agriculture, Philippe van den Bossche, discusses how sustainable farming can lessen climate change . According to a July 17, 2013 article published on TreeHugger.com, entitled, “More research shows sustainable agriculture can mitigate climate change,” one third of greenhouse gasses being produced by humans in the past ten years can be attributed to poor crop cultivation, animal production and deforestation. However, new research is showing that improving crop yields – growing more food in a set amount of space – could reduce the emissions we release into the atmosphere by “12 percent per calorie.” The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, found that “sustainable farming approaches can accomplish both goals of reducing emissions and providing more food.” Hugo Valin, an IIASA researcher who led the study, elaborates: “The most efficient way to ensure sustainable intensification on the crop side is to rely on practices and technologies that are not more fertilizer-demanding, such as new varieties, improved rotations, integrated crop-livestock practices, and precision farming.” United Nations Special Rapporteur, Olivier De Schutter, recently told the UN Rights Council about the impact that “small-scale” sustainable agriculture can have on food production and the possibility of alleviating poverty in certain developing nations. “To feed 9 billion people in 2050, we urgently need to adopt the most efficient farming techniques available. Today’s scientific evidence demonstrates that agro ecological methods outperform the use of chemical fertilizers in boosting food production where the hungry live especially in unfavorable environments.” Philippe van den Bossche, an impact investor and advocate for sustainable agriculture, comments on the recent findings: “Today’s conventional farming practices saturate farmlands with toxic pesticides and fertilizers, strip soil of nutrients and contribute to desertification. Utilizing sustainable, organic agriculture is one way to get our environment back into a healthy state.” Philippe van den Bossche is an impact entrepreneur, impact investor and Chairman/ Owner of Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA), a leading organic agricultural consulting and manufacturing company located in Middlefield, Ohio. AEA provides consulting services and specialty nutritional materials to farms throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. van den Bossche is an advocate for organic farming and agriculture. ##### Continue reading
