WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a family farmer and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was joined by Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in introducing the Biochar Research Network Act. This bipartisan, bicameral proposal seeks to study the effectiveness of biochar, which is a carbon-rich material produced from biomass. Specifically, the bill would establish a national biochar research network to test the impact of biochar across various soil types, application methods and climates to learn more about its capacity to benefit farmers and the environment.
 
“Biochar possesses the unique ability to improve the quality of soil while also sequestering carbon. With additional research, biochar could provide farmers with a low-cost solution for boosting their yields by keeping soil fertile for a longer period of time. A lot of work remains to fully understand the benefits biochar could provide, and that’s why I’m honored to lead the introduction of the Biochar Research Network Act to expand research into this potentially transformative tool,” Grassley said.
 
“I applaud the introduction of the Biochar Research Network Act. The research it enables will pave the way for a new industry that creates jobs and opportunity across rural Iowa producing biochar and next generation biofuel,” said David Laird, Professor Emeritus of Soil Science at Iowa State University.
 
“Soil health is critical to South Dakota agriculture,” said Thune. “Biochar holds the potential to benefit crop production, nutrient retention, and reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity of crops, which would amplify the benefits of homegrown biofuels. The research network supported by this legislation would expand the agriculture sector’s leadership in providing energy, food, and environmental solutions.”
 
“Biochar has the potential to lower input costs for farmers and protect our environment,” said Brown. “Bringing down costs for Ohio farmers, while addressing the impacts of climate change that farmers across this country know all too well, will be top priorities in the next farm bill debate, and biochar could be an important tool to doing both.”
 
“As a farmer, I know that the resources we invest in research and innovation can pay huge dividends down the line by lowering costs for Montana producers and increasing profit margins while improving the health of our fields,” said Tester. “That’s why I’m proud to sponsor this bipartisan legislation that will increase our understanding of the benefits of biochar on improving soil health, increasing moisture retention, and combatting climate change. Montana family farmers and ranchers feed the world, and this bill will help us give them every tool to be successful.”
 
The proposed national biochar research network would work to:
 
  • Understand productive uses for biochar to help with crop production and climate mitigation;
  • Assess biochar’s potential for soil carbon sequestration; and
  • Deliver cost-effective and practical information to farmers on sustainable biochar production and application.

A companion bill was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).

During his 99 county meetings this year, Grassley visited a plant in Redfield, Iowa that manufactures biochar.
 
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
 

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