On July 14, 2026 , the Forum on Biochar and Carbon Research brought together researchers and members of the public for an online presentation examining three decades of progress in biochar science.
The webinar featured Prof. Stephen Joseph of The University of New South Wales, Australia , and was hosted by Prof. Jianying Shang of China Agricultural University . The event was jointly presented by the journals Biochar and Carbon Research .
“ After 30 years of research, we now have a much clearer understanding of how biochar changes in soil and how it can support crops, soil health, and climate goals, ” said Prof. Joseph. “The key is to match the properties of biochar with the specific needs of each soil and agricultural system.”
During the presentation, Prof. Joseph explained how biochar behavior is shaped by its original feedstock, production temperature, soil conditions, climate, and application method. He described three major stages after biochar is added to soil: initial dissolution, development of reactive surfaces, and long-term aging.
The review highlighted evidence that biochar can improve soil pH, porosity, water availability, nutrient retention, root development, and microbial activity . Research summarized in the webinar also shows that biochar can increase phosphorus availability, reduce the uptake of some heavy metals by plants, lower certain greenhouse gas emissions, and support long-term carbon storage.
Across previous studies and meta-analyses, crop yield responses have varied widely. The strongest benefits are often reported in acidic, nutrient-poor soils and in sandy soils where water and nutrient retention are limited. According to the presentation, carefully tailored biochar formulations are more effective than one-size-fits-all applications .
The webinar also emphasized biochar’s wider role in climate change mitigation, food security, sustainable agriculture, and the circular economy .
The full recording of the July 14, 2026 webinar is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RFwIdU-0PWE?si=agowdFBfrqeLcbIf
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About Biochar
Biochar (e-ISSN: 2524-7867) is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field.
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About Carbon Research
The journal Carbon Research is an international multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on natural and engineered carbonaceous materials that are associated with ecological and environmental functions, energy generation, and global change. It is a fully Open Access (OA) journal and the Article Publishing Charges (APC) are waived until Dec 31, 2025. It is dedicated to serving as an innovative, efficient and professional platform for researchers in the field of carbon functions around the world to deliver findings from this rapidly expanding field of science. The journal is currently indexed by Scopus and Ei Compendex, and as of June 2025, the dynamic CiteScore value is 15.4.