February 15, 2010
South Australia could become a leader in the generation of renewable energy from organic material following the signing of an agreement between two of the state’s leading environment-focused organisations.
Jeffries Group, which recycles more than 100,000 tonnes of organic material each year, and the South Australian No-Till Farmers’ Association, Australia’s largest landcare organisation, will enter a joint venture to carry out research and trials on the use of organic material energy production and the production of biochar.
The benefits for the state could include better waste management, the increased production of renewable energy, the establishment of a local skills base in carbon capture and the creation of new jobs.
Biochar is attracting growing global interest because of its potential in carbon sequestration and improving soil. It can remove large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and return it to the soil for improved crop management.
Biochar is a type of charcoal produced by heating organic material, such as crop waste, wood chips and manure, and is returned to the soil, where it can remain stable for hundreds of years i. When used in soil it can improve fertiliser performance, help nutrient retention and improve soil structure and water-holding capacity.
Importantly, if a carbon accounting scheme is introduced, the amount of carbon in biochar can be quantified.
In addition, the process of creating biochar also produces energy, which could offer farmers a valuable option for diverting some farm equity to renewable energy generation.
Jeffries Group Operations Manager Martin Jeffries said the company’s compost, soil and mulch products would remain the key focus, but the joint venture would investigate additional end markets for organic feedstocks.
“If we can capture carbon and lock it up in biochar we can increase farm productivity while also addressing one of the most pressing global environmental issues,” Mr Jeffries said.
“Organic waste holds large amounts of carbon, and the use of biochar along with traditional organic compost applications will be an important part of farming practice. We see them as complementary product streams.
“Jeffries and SANTFA have already demonstrated their credentials in the area of economically viable environmental sustainability, and since the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding we are looking towards the planning stage of the joint venture.”
SANTFA Research and Development Manager Greg Butler said the potential of biochar was extremely exciting.
“It has been forecast that a great deal of land now under food production will be diverted to afforestation for carbon sequestration in the coming decades,” he said.
“We have the opportunity to take our existing agricultural production and waste management systems and add another step to that framework – biochar creation – to close the carbon loop. Every ton of organic waste produces 350kg of biochar and one megawatt hour of renewable energy.
“I believe capturing carbon from food waste is the most efficient and ethical way of capturing carbon. It also ensures the preservation of land assets for food production and conservation.”
Mr Butler said the local agricultural sector was a world leader in sustainability and was committed to ongoing improvement.
“SANTFA has seen the adoption of no-till farming move from next to nothing in SA to nearly 90 per cent during the past decade,” he said.
Media Contacts:
Martin Jeffries, Group Operations Manager, Jeffries. Mobile: 0417 808 643
Greg Butler, SANTFA. Mobile: 0427 424 278
Melissa King, Hughes PR Phone: (08) 8412 4103 Mobile: 0448 881 644
About Jeffries
Jeffries is a fourth-generation, wholly South Australian-owned company. The Jeffries Group is focused on receiving, processing and marketing organic resources. It has a strong reputation for producing a variety of high quality landscape and horticultural products from recycled organic materials. By recycling organics it helps divert precious resources from landfill and provides an important source of valuable carbon for our soils. A true “green sector” company, internationally Jeffries is recognised as a leading and innovative organic recycler.
About SANTFA
SANTFA is Australia’s largest landcare group. A non-profit, farmer-driven organisation promoting the benefits of no-till farming and general conservation farming, it has more than 1000 members in SA.
i CSIRO Land and Water, Biochar Fact Sheet
