How a soil additive called biochar can help fight the climate crisis by locking away carbon for centuries

A decade ago, Jim Doten was on a tour in Afghanistan with the Army National Guard searching for ways to help farmers improve soils depleted of nutr...

July 4, 2022
4:16 AM

A decade ago, Jim Doten was on a tour in Afghanistan with the Army National Guard searching for ways to help farmers improve soils depleted of nutrients and carbon.The geohydrologist came across some studies on biochar, a material not unlike the burnt remains of a campfire.Doten's biochar program in Afghanistan was short-lived, but the idea stuck. He's since convinced Minneapolis, Minnesota officials of biochar's value as governments search for ways to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also remove them from the atmosphere.

Catherine Boudreau