towards high throughput analysis of carbon fluxes in biological

North Eastern European Biomass Agenda 2020

International Workshop

New Biomass Product Lines: Biochar and Hemp

25. – 26. April 2013

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Partner

N. I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry

Agrophysical Research Institute

International Workshop „New Biomass Product Lines”: Biochar and Hemp“ St. Petersburg, 25-26.04.2013

Workshop Program

Wednesday, 24.04.2013

Thursday 25.04.2013

09:00 – 10:00 Arrival

10:00 – 10:15 Welcome address and introduction to the Workshop. Dr. Ljudmila Borisenko

10:15 – 10:40 Introduction to the N. I. Vavilov Institute for Plant Industry. Dr. Sergey V. Grigoryev,

Dr. Tatiana V. Shelenga

10:40 – 11:05 Introduction to the Agrophysical Research Institute (ARI). Dr. Natalya Buchkina

11:05 – 11:30 Introduction to the ATB Leibniz Institute. Dr. Jürgen Kern

11:30 – 12:00 Coffee Break

12:00 – 13:00 Visit to N. I. Vavilov's Memorial Museum and the Gene Bank of the Institute

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 17:30 Parallel Session l 14:00 – 17:30 Parallel Session ll

Biomass Product Line: Hemp

Chair: Dr. Sergey V. Grigoryev,

Dr. Hans-Jörg Gusovius

Biomass Product Line: Biochar

Chair: Dr. Natalya Buchkina and

Dr. Jürgen Kern

19:00 Dinner for all participants of the Workshop at the Mamaliga Restaurant,

Kazanskaya street 2 (http://www.mamaliga-mamaliga.com)

Friday, 26.04.2013

10:00 – 13:00 Parallel Session lll 10:00 – 13:00 Parallel Session lV

Round table of the Hemp Group at the N.I.

Vavilov Institute. Discussion of the mutual

projects and funding.

Round table of the Biochar Group at the

Agrophysical Research Institute (ARI). Discussion

of the mutual projects and funding.

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 Closing of the workshop, Departure/Free time

http://www.mamaliga-mamaliga.com/


List of Participants

Antonov, Dmitrij, SachsenLeinen GmbH, Germany

Balashov, Evgeny, Agrophysical Research Institute, Russia

Belinetc, Anastasiia, Agrophysical Research Institute, Russia

Borisenko, Ljudmila, pearls – Potsdam Research Network, Germany

Brückner, Torsten, SachsenLeinen GmbH, Germany

Buchkina, Natalya, Agrophysical Research Institute, Russia

Budde, Jörn, Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim e. V., Germany

Fischer, Holger, Faserinstitut Bremen, Germany

Grigoryev, Sergey V., N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry, Russia

Gusovius, Hans-Jörg, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim e. V.,

Germany

Heller, Krzysztof, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Poland

Kern, Jürgen, Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim e. V., Germany

Kihlberg, Tor, Uppsala University, Sweden

Krebs, Jonas, pearls – Potsdam Research Network, Germany

Laizans, Talis, Latvian Industrial Hemp Association, Latvia

Libra, Judy, Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim e. V., Germany

Mukhina, Irina, Agrophysical Research Institute, Russia

Prade, Thomas, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden

Prill, Melek Akca, pearls – Potsdam Research Network, Germany

Raave, Henn, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia

Rizhiya, Elena, Agrophysical Research Institute, Russia

Shelenga, Tatiana V., N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry, Russia

Silvennoinen, Hanna, Bioforsk, Norway

von Stackelberg, Burkhard, SmartCarbon AG, Germany

Steinberg, Christian, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany

Stezenko, Birgit, Kranemann GmbH, Germany

Tiilikkala, Kari, MTT - Agrifood Research Finland, Finland

Tjiok, Dave, SmartCarbon AG, Germany

Tonutare, Tonu, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia


Dmitrij Antonov

SachsenLeinen GmbH

Ebersbacher Straße 1

08396 Waldenburg, Germany

Phone: +49 172 3653632

Fax: +49 3763 404747-16

E-mail: [email protected]

Fields of Expertise

Processing of fiber crops for technical and textile applications.

Vitae

Dmitrij Antonov was born in 1964 in Severodvinsk, Russia. He studied fiber technology

at the Leningrad Institute of Textile and Light Industry. Thereafter he worked on textile

products in Mogilev/Belarus. In 1996 he moved to Germany. In 2001 started the

cooperation with Sachsenleinen GmbH in function as a representative for Russia and

Belarus. The main area of SachsenLeinen GmbH is located in production and selling of

natural fibers and development of new technologies in planting, harvesting, processing

of fiberplants as well as product of natural fibers.

mailto:[email protected]


Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evgeny Balashov


14 Grazhdansky Prospekt

St. Petersburg, 195220, Russia

Phone: +78125341089


Fields of Expertise

Greenhouse gas emissions, soil quality indicators, fertilizer and biochar application,

DNDC model.

Vitae

Evgeny Balashov was born in Leningrad (Russia) and received his MSc from the

Leningrad State University. In 1990 he obtained PhD at the Agrophysical Research

Institute working on water regime of plants. He continued his research in the field of

soil compaction and deformation. Later his research activities were focused on studies

of black carbon, greenhouse gas emissions, soil compaction, water-stable aggregation,

and soil microbial properties as related to soil land use, management and fertilisation.

These studies were fulfilled at the home institute and research institutions in Germany,

the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Slovakia, and Czech Republic. His current scientific

interests are mainly focused on direct measurements and modelling of greenhouse gas

emissions from soils amended with nitrogen fertilisers, farmyard manure and biochar.

Since 2006 he is a head of department of soil physics, physical chemistry and

biophysics. He is now a member of the Russian Society of Soil Scientists, Soil Tillage

Research Organisation (ISTRO) and Editorial Board of the “International Agrophysics”

journal.



Anastasiia Belinetc


14 Grazhdansky Prospect


Phone: +7 (812) 534 1089

FAX: +7 (812) 534 1900


Fields of Expertise

Soil management, soil biological properties in relation to sustainable land use.

Vitae

Anastasiia Belinets has a BSc degree in Agrochemistry and Ecology and is a M.Sc.

student at the St. Petersburg State University. She is also a part-time researcher at the

Agrophysical Research Institute of Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory

of Soil Biophysics where her research word is related to studying the effect of biochar

application on soil parameters and greenhouse gas emission.



Dr. Ljudmila Borisenko

Pearls – Potsdam Research Network

Am Mühlenberg 11

14476 Potsdam, Germany

Phone: +49 331 96 79 59 46

FAX: +49 331 96 79 59 59


Fields of Expertise

Scientific: Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Protein Crystallography, Protein

Degradation, Proteasome Inhibitors

Organisational: Scientific coordination of large and small scale research consortiums,

funding of research projects, international research cooperation, international

educational projects, coordination of educational and scientific bi- and multinational

programs

Vitae

Dr. Ljudmila Borissenko received her M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Saint-

Petersburg (Russia) and worked for her PhD at the Biochemistry Institute of the

University of Göttingen, where she investigated the molecular background of the rare

hereditary diseases. She worked as a Postdoc in the field of protein crystallography and

protein degradation at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the Charité

University Hospital in Berlin. In 2009 she received the M.Sc. in Science Communication

and Marketing at the Technical University of Berlin, and started working as a Scientific

Coordinator and Manager for International Cooperations at the University of Potsdam

and pearls-Potsdam Research Network. Dr. Ljudmila Borisenko is coordinating, among

other projects, the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the German-Turkish University in

Istanbul, the joint initiative of the governments of Turkey and Germany.



Torsten Brückner

SachsenLeinen GmbH

EbersbacherStraße 1

08396 Waldenburg, Germany

Phone: +49 172 7901883

Fax: +49 3763 404747 16


Fields of Expertise

Agronomy, harvest and processing of fiber crops for technical applications.

Vitae

Torsten Brückner, born in 1965, graduated from the Martin-Luther-University in

Halle/Wittenberg with a degree in agronomy. Afterwards, in 1995, he started to work

on “Sachsen-Leinen e. V.”, a non profit organisation for fiber plants and natural fiber in

Germany. Main area of SachsenLeinen is located in R&D for planting, harvesting,

processing of fiber plants and development for products of natural fibers.

Torsten Brückner is a honorary board member of the “German Natural Fiber

Association” (DNV).



Dr. Natalya Buchkina


14 Grazhdansky Prospect


Phone: +7 (812) 534 10 89

FAX: +7 (812) 534 19 00


Fields of Expertise

Soil management, greenhouse gas emission, soil physical parameters, sustainable land

use.

Vitae

Dr. Natalya Buchkina has a position of a leading research scientist at the laboratory of

soil biophysics. She has received her M.Sc. degree in soil science at the Leningrad

University and her PhD degree at the Agrophysical Research Institute. She had several

postdoc projects studying greenhouse gas emission from peat soils (Edinburgh

University, UK), the effect of nitrification inhibitors on greenhouse gas emission from

soils (Alterra, the Netherlands) and the effect of soil tillage on soil physical properties

and greenhouse gas emission (Kiel, Germany). Dr. Natalya Buchkina has initiated

several joint research projects between the Agrophysical Research Institute and other

Institutions of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences studying the effects of

fertilizers, manures, crops, and soil tillage on N2O emission from arable soils in Central

and North-Western Russia. She also had several International grants supporting

projects in the same research area as well as in biochar studies.



Dipl.-Ing. Jörn Budde

Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering

Potsdam-Bornim e. V.

Department of Post Harvest Technology

Max-Eyth-Allee 100

14469 Potsdam, Germany

Phone: +49 331 5699 315

FAX: +49 331 5699 849


Fields of Expertise

Harvest and wet preservation of hemp, pretreatment technologies, conditioning and

processing of (preserved) natural fibers, process engineering, process development for

selective extraction of seed from specialized crops, biogas, biogas plant techniques

Vitae

I am working as a scientist and mechanical engineer in the Department of Postharvest

Technology at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering (ATB) in the field of

material and energetic use of biomass. Currently, my research focuses on the process

development for selective extraction of seed from specialized crops and on

conditioning and processing natural fibers, in particular from hemp (cannabis sativa).

My work within the EU project “EU-AgroBiogas” was directed at the improvement of

agricultural biogas plants.

A special research interest of mine is to find new or unexplored ways of material and

energetic use to make products from fibers of domestic plants competitive.



Dr. Holger Fischer

Faserinstitut Bremen e. V.

Am Biologischen Garten 2 / IW3

28359 Bremen, Germany

Phone: +49-421 218 58 661

FAX: +49-421 218 58 710


Fields of Expertise

Natural fibres, fibre surface modification, enzymes, fibre characterisation, natural fibre

reinforced composites, biocomposites.

Vitae

Dr. Holger Fischer, born in 1961, is chemist. He studied at the University of Bremen

(Diploma Thesis: 1990; Ph.D. Thesis: 1994). Since 1997 he is working at the Faserinstitut

Bremen e. V. — FIBRE —, Bremen, Germany in the area of renewable resources and

sustainability. As Senior Research Fellow he is engaged in the fields of enzymatic fibre

modification, fibre characterisation, natural fibres, fibre surface modification, natural

fibre-reinforced composites and biocomposites. He is member of several scientific

councils and member of the European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles

and Clothing (TEG 5).



Dr. Sergey V. Grigoryev

N. I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry

Industrial Crop Dept. B. Morskaia 42-44


Phone: +7 921 557 38 78

FAX: +7 812 311 87 62


Fields of Expertise

Biology of Cannabis habitat, Cannabis germplasm collection, evaluation, breeding and

reintroduction.

Vitae

Dr. Sergey Grigoryev is Leading Researcher of Department of Spinning and Oil Crops at

N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry (VIR) in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has over 15

years research & development experience in the areas of Cannabis germplasm

collecting, evaluation and breeding. Dr. Grigoryev is also cotton researcher and breeder

in Astrakhan Experimental Station, Astrakhan region, Russia. His research interests

include Cannabis traits and donor collections, keeping genetic diversity and integrity of

ex situ Cannabis germplasm for crop breeding improvement. As well in the focus of his

research concurrent production hemp and cotton in Russia and Gossypium hirsutum

germplasm evaluation and breeding. Over the past five years, Dr. Grigoryev and his

working team have developed six internationally recognized cultivars of industrial hemp

an upland cotton. 85 articles in Russian, Uzbek, English, Finnish, French, Portuguese

have been published.

BS Diploma in Agronomics Moscow Agricultural Academy, Moscow, USSR, 1986; Ph.D. Diploma in Agriculture, The Supreme Attestation Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Council Research Institute of Cotton Breeding, Uzbekistan, 1995; Ph.D. Diploma in Agriculture, The Supreme Attestation Committee of Russian Federation on the application of the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry, Moscow, Russia, 1997



Dr. Hans-Jörg Gusovius

Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering


Department of Post Harvest Technology

Max-Eyth-Allee 100

14469 Potsdam-Bornim, Germany

Phone: +49 331 5699 316

Fax: +49 331 5699 849


Fields of Expertise

Agronomy, harvest and processing of fiber crops for technical applications

Vitae

Dr. Hans-Joerg Gusovius, born 1971, has served a dual apprenticeship as agronomist in

East German agriculture including the baccalaureate till 1990. After finishing the

academic studies in agriculture at Humboldt-University in Berlin he has done a

doctorate at same place from 1997 to 2001. Related research was dealing with

assessment of harvesting technologies for fiber hemp in terms of weather related

procedure risk and product quality. That followed he was scientific co-worker at

Technical University of Cottbus till 2007. Main areas of R&D are located in the area of

harvesting and processing technologies for bast fibre plants as well as their quality

assessment and their utilization. Since November 2007 Dr. Gusovius is member of staff

at Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim.

Dr. Gusovius is a honorary board member of German Natural Fiber Association (DNV).



Prof. Dr. Krzysztof Heller

Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants

ul. Wojska Polskiego 71 B

60-630 Poznań, Poland

Phone: (48-61) 845 58 66

FAX: (48-61) 841 78 30


Fields of Expertise

Bast fibrous plants, breeding, agronomy, fibre flax, hemp

Vitae

Krzysztof Heller, Prof. Dr. Agricultural engineer, professor in crop breeding and

agronomy. He has been involved in several projects such as: 1) creative and

maintenance plant breeding, 2) cultivation technologies of bastfibre crops, 3)

ontogenesis of plants, 4) agrophages populations, 5) biological evaluation of herbicides,

insecticides and growth regulators in fibrous crops cultivation, 6) organic fibrous crop

growing, 7) training agronomic extension service staff and farmers in terms of

agronomy of flax and hemp.

Involved in FP6 projects: EUROCROP (Agricultural Research for Improving Arable Crop

Competitiveness, SSPE-CT-2006-022757), FLEXIFUNBAR [Multifunctional Barriers for

Flexible Structures (textiles, leather, paper), NMP2-CT-2004-505864] and FP7 projects:

4FCROPS (Future Crops for Food, Feed, Fiber and Fuel - 212811), CROPS2INDUSTRY

(Non-food Crops-to-Industry schemes in EU27, 227299), FIBRA (Fibre Crops as a

sustainable source of biobased material for industrial products in Europe and China.

Author of over 80 publications.



Dr. Jürgen Kern

Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering

Potsdam-Bornim e. V., Bioengineering

Max-Eyth-Allee 100


Phone: +49 (0) 331 56 99 123

FAX: +49 (0) 331 56 99 849


Fields of Expertise

Biomass conversion, biochar, greenhouse gases, carbon stability, soil quality

Vitae

Jürgen Kern is biologist and senior scientist in the department Bioengineering at ATB

since 1994. In 2011 he became the head of the research field “Material and energetic

use of biomass” one of four research programs established at ATB.

The focus is on a better understanding of microbiological and biogeochemical processes

in the context of sustainable resource management including the upgrading of biomass

and organic waste materials. One example is the research on biochar, which is

considered as an innovative material for both, improving the soil quality of agricultural

land and long-term sequestration of CO2. Main research topics are the stability of chars

and their properties to adsorb greenhouse gases such as N2O.

Jürgen Kern belongs to the Steering Committee of the EU COST Action “Biochar as

option for sustainable resource management”. Selected publications on biochar:

o Libra JA, Ro KS, Kammann C, Funke A, Berge ND, Neubauer Y, Titirici MM, Fühner C, Bens O, Kern J, Emmerich KH (2011) Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass residuals: A comparative review of the chemistry, processes and applications of wet and dry pyrolysis. Biofuels 2 (1): 71-106.

o Chakrabarti S, Kern J, Menzel R, Steinberg CEW (2011) Selected Natural humic materials induce and char substrates repress a gene in Caenorhabditiselegans homolog to human anticancer P53. Annals of Environmental Science 5: 1-6.



Dr. Tor Kihlberg

Uppsala University

Valhallagatan 14

75334 Uppsala, Sweden

Phone: +46(0)764271275


[email protected]

Fields of Expertise

Organic chemistry, biochar, Apparatus development, global environmental- and

sustainable issues, gardening.

Vitae

Current position: Entrepreneur, working with the newly started company:

Carboinventus AB, with research projects, consultation and lecturing in the area of

sustainable development with special focus on biochar. Previous positions, 2010-2012:

Uppsala University, department of geoscience, as researcher on biochar. 2002-2010: GE

Healthcare, researcher in radiopharmaceutical organic chemistry including, supervision

of Ph.D. students (5), invention of automated synthesis apparatus (17 patents and

patent applications) and pharmaceutical industry contract research.

Graduation in chemistry: 1988. Ph.D. in organic chemistry: 1994. Associate professor:

2003. Articles, where I was in charge: 8.Articles, where I had a great influence but was

not in charge: 18.Book chapters, where I had a great influence but was not in charge:

2.Other publications: more than 50. Interviews: in local newspapers about biochar and

environmental issues: 4. In radio: 3.

For me biochar is not a techno fix but an entrance to sustainable system solutions.

Research interests: charcoal as biofuel to facilitate biochar infrastructure. Stacking

multiple functions and values of biochar for economical feasibility. Agronomical field

trials. Relations to peak oil and global climate change.




Assoc. Prof. Dr. Talis Laizans

Latvian Industrial Hemp Association

Kalnciema Street 6

Riga, LV 1048, Latvia

Phone: +371 2945 9728


Fields of Expertise

Natural fibre materials, eco-materials, sustainable economics, project management,

finance

Vitae

Current position: Researcher and project manager - “Latgale Agriculture Research

Centre” Latvia (FP7-KBBE-2012 “Multi Hemp” project);

Associate professor – Riga Technical University Faculty of Engineering Economics;

Vice-chairman – Latvian Industrial Hemp Association.

Academic career

o Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Civil Engineering, Department of Road and Bridge Construction, Riga Technical University (1980).

o Master of Science in Economics, Latvia University (1998). o Researcher in finance, Riga Technical University (2004-2010). o Assoc. Prof. in Financial Markets and Corporate Finance, Riga Technical University

(2010 – to date)

Memberships

Latvian Industrial Hemp Association, vice-chairman, (2010-to date), Latvian Financial

Accounting Standards Technical Committee, Chairperson, Board Member, (1999-2003),

Toronto International Leadership Centre for Financial Sector Supervision and Crisis

Management, Associate, (1999-2005), Associated editor, “Finanses” (“Finance”,

monthly magazine in Latvian), (2004-2006).



Dr. Judy Libra

Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering


Technology Assessment and Substance Cycles

Max-Eyth-Allee 100


Phone: +49(0)331 5699 215

FAX: +49(0)331 5699 849


Fields of Expertise

Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass residuals, water demand for biomass

production, material flow management, chemical and biological treatment of water.

Vitae

Since joining ATB in the `AgroHyd´ Project in 2011, I have focused on how we can

estimate the effect of the growing global food demand on local water use for

agricultural production. My interest in biochar stems from its possible influence on

water and nutrient retention in soils, as well as from the potential use of hydrothermal

carbonization as a treatment process for organic wastes. I started my career as a

chemical engineer in the petrochemical industry before getting my Ph.D. in Civil and

Environmental Engineering (UCLA), and researching and teaching (Technical University

Berlin, Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus) in environmental management and

wastewater treatment processes. My previous work experience also includes positions

at the German Federal Environment Agency and the German Academy of Science and

Engineering (acatech), with a focus on sustainable management of water resources

under the conditions of global change.



Irina Mukhina


14 Grazhdansky prospect


Phone: +7 (812) 534 1089

FAX: +7 (812) 534 1900


Fields of Expertise

Greenhouse gas emission, biochar, soil management, soil physical parameters.

Vitae

Irina Mukhina has a position of an engineer at the laboratory of soil biophysics. She has

received her BSc. degree in Ecology and Nature Management at the Russian State

Hydrometeorological University. Now she continues her studies on MSc. degree in

Ecology and Nature Management program at the Russian State Hydrometeorological

University. During the period of education she had several internships: to The Czech

Republic where she studied Ecotoxicology and Radiology, to Armenia where she studied

features of local landscape and hydrology and to Slovakia where she studied

Agroecology. In the research project at the Agrophysical Research Institution she

investigated influence of biochar on chemical, physical and biological soil properties

and carbon dioxide emission from soils. Now she takes part in the research project at

the Agrophysical Research Institute in which processes of nitrification and

denitrification in soils are being studied.



Dr. Thomas Prade

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Department of Biosystems and Technology

23053 Alnarp, Sweden

Phone: +46-40-415157

Cell: +46-709-312371

FAX: +46-40-462272


Fields of Expertise

Systems analysis; energy crops; nutrient recycling; food-feed-energy integration

Vitae

I am a biotechnologist from the Technical University, Braunschweig, Germany. I did my

PhD at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, and am currently

employed there as a post-doc. Current and recent research projects include:

o Ley crops as biogas substrate on both marginal and productive land o Techno-economic assessments of biomass production chains o Assessment of crop rotations in terms of soil carbon and greenhouse gas emissions o Assessment of environmental and economic impact of energy crop production and

subsequent biogas conversion o Fibre plants for production of dissolving-cellulose and by-products o Energy crops as solid fuel Prade T., Svensson S.-E., Mattsson J. E., Carlsson G., Björnsson L., Börjesson P. and Lantz M. (2013) EU sustainability criteria for biofuels potentially restrict ley crop production on marginal land for use as biogas substrate. Accepted for publication in Grassland Science in Europe 18.

Prade T, Svensson S-E, Mattsson JE. Energy balances for biogas and solid biofuel production from industrial hemp. Biomass & Bioenergy 2012; 40:36-52.

Prade T. Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) – a High-Yielding Energy Crop. Alnarp, Sweden: Department of Agrosystems, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2011. 93 p. [doctoral thesis]

Prade T, Svensson S-E, Andersson A, Mattsson JE. Biomass and energy yield of industrial hemp grown for biogas and solid fuel. Biomass & Bioenergy 2011; 35(7): 3040-9.

Kreuger, E., T. Prade, et al. (2011). "Anaerobic digestion of industrial hemp–Effect of harvest time on methane energy yield per hectare. Biomass & Bioenergy 2011; 35(2): 893-900.



Melek Akça Prill

University of Potsdam

Pearls - Potsdam Research Network

Am Mühlenberg 11

14474 Potsdam - Golm, Germany

Phone: +49(0)331 9679 5946

Fax: +49(0)331 9679 5959


Fields of Expertise

European Studies, Energy Security and External Energy Relations of Turkey, Biomass

energy in Turkey, International Cooperation

Vitae

I got my Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 2007 from the Maltepe University,

Istanbul. In 2009, I received my double-degree Master of Arts (M.A.) in European

Studies from the Istanbul Bilgi University (Turkey) and in European-University of

Viadrina, Frankfurt Oder (Germany). After my internships in German Parliament and in

Brandenburg State Parliament, I have started my doctorate studies in Free University

Berlin, with Prof. Dr. Elmar Altvater’s mentorship. In my Ph.D. thesis, titled, “The Energy

Security of Turkey in the field of Renewable Energy - Biomass”, I am going to examine

how the development of bioenergy in Turkey will diminish Turkey’s energy dependence

and with which rural- and regional conflicts will Turkey face with.

Recently, I am working in Pearls – Potsdam Research Network, as Assistant Coordinator

for the Turkish-German University. Additionally, I am a part-time fellow Institute for

Ecological Economy Research IÖW) for the project “RAdOst – Regional Adaptation

Strategies for the German Baltic Sea Cost”.



Dr. Henn Raave

Estonian University of Life Sciences

Ringtee 3-11 Törvandi

61715 Tartumaa, Estonia

Phone: +372 425 086

FAX: +372 425 082


Fields of Expertise

Grassland management, energy hay production, nutrient leaching.

Vitae

2001 – 1986 Estonian Agricultural University, agronomy, 1990 – 1995 Postgraduate student, Estonian Agricultural University, 1999 Dr. in agriculture. Thesis: “Botanical composition and yield dynamics

and herbage utilization of grazedpure-sown grasses stands and grass white clover binary mixtures on gleyed podzolized loamy sand soil, Estonian University of Life Sciences”

2008 – present Researcher; Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Field Crop Husbandry

1995 – 2008 Researcher, Department of Grassland Science and Botany, Estonian Agricultural University

1986 – 1989 Agronomist, Tuudi farm

Major grants & projects

1) Alternative fertilizers environment-saving utilization opportunities and efficiency in conventional and organic farming in comparison with traditional organic and mineral fertilizers, 2) Diversity, integrity and sustainability of agroecosystems, 3) The agricultural crops utilization for burning and biogas production; assortment and agrotechnology, 4) The relationships between nutrient cycling and grassland phytoproductivity depending on stand composition, defoliation frequency and fertilizer application, 5) The reasons and indicator parameters of phytotoxicity of oil shale semi-coke and plant growth substrates produced from it.



Dr. Elena Rizhiya


Grazhdanskiy pr., 14


Phone: +78125341089

FAX: +78125341900


Fields of Expertise

Soil biological activity, greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils in relation to

sustainable land use and soil quality, biochar impact on soil properties and nitrous

oxide emission from agricultural soils.

Vitae

Ph.D., senior research scientist, Agrophysical Research Institute of Russian Academy of

Agricultural Sciences, Lab. of Soil Biophysics.

Dr. Elena Rizhiya has received her MSc degree at St. Petersburg State University, Faculty

of Biology and Soil Science in 1996, PhD degree (soil science) at the Agrophysical

Research Institute in 2002. The list of her latest academic qualification includes: (2012-

2016) Non-COST country membership in the COST Action TD 1107 “Biochar as option

for sustainable resource management”, (2008-2010) Non-COST country membership in

the COST 636 Action “Greenhouse gas budget of soils under changing climate and land

use”. She also had several International grants supporting projects in the same research

area. Her teaching activity is connected with supervision of BSc and MSc projects of

students in soil science and ecology. The main subject she has been working at lately

was N2O emission from soils in the North-Western part of Russia. She studied the

effects of soil tillage, application of biochar and different N-fertilizers as well as organic

and green manures to arable soils, the influence of grazing, crops, and earthworm

activity on N2O emission from agricultural soils.



Dr. Tatiana V. Shelenga

Department of Biochemistry, N.I. Vavilov

Research Institute of Plant Industry

Bolshaya Morskaya Str. 42


Phone: +7 (812) 315 5796

FAX: +7 (812) 311 8762


Fields of Expertise

Quality evaluation (storage protein (prolamins), analysis of oil, protein, starch, sugar

content, lipid fractions, fatty acids, biologically active substances) of plant facilities (fruit

and berry cultures, leguminous, forage, oil and industrial crops).

Vitae

2011 – present Senior Researcher, Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular biology, N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry.

2000 – 2011 Researcher, Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular biology, N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry.

2006 PhD thesis in Biology: «Analyze of meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) accessions (from N.I. Vavilov institute collection) containing the endophyte fungi of genus Neotyphodium (=Acremonium).»

1997 – 2000 Senior Epidemiologist, Leningrad Region Clinical Children Hospital

1989 – 1996 Student, Faculty of Prophylactic Medicine, St. Petersburg State Medical Academy

o Biochemical Characteristics of Hemp Seeds from Various Regions of Russia S. V. Grigor’ev, T. V.

Shelenga, V. S. Baturinb, and Yu. V. Saranab Russian Agricultural sciences Vol. 36 No. 4 2010, р 262-263,

o Keeping genetic diversity of ex situ cannabis germplasm for crop breeding improvement. (t). Sergey V. Grigoryev Ph.D., Tatiana V. Shelenga Ph.D., Ksenia V. Illarionova Ph.D. and Larissa V. BagmetPh.D.Material of 9th International Conference of the European Industrial Hemp Association May 23th-24th 2012, Germany.

http://www.eiha-conference.org/


Dr. Hanna Silvennoinen

Bioforsk - Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and

Environmental Research Saghellinga A, Frederik

A. Dahlsvei, 20 1432 Ås, Norway

Phone: +47 9201 2259


Fields of Expertise

Biogeochemisty, microbial ecology, greenhouse gases, stable isotopes

Vitae

I am currently a researcher at Bioforsk. I have a PhD in Environmental Sciences from

the University of Kuopio (Currently university of Eastern Finland). During my career I

have published (as a first or co-author) eight peer reviewed articles. I am a Norwegian

representative in a COST Action SIBAE (on stable isotopes), and currently I coordinate

three international projects (one of which is directly related to biochar studies).

Bioforsk, the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, is a

research and development (R&D) institute under the Norwegian Ministry of

Agriculture and Food. Bioforsk conducts research and development projects in

Europe, Asia, Latin America, and has state of the art laboratories for analyses of soil

C, climate gases and soil organisms. Bioforskcenters it’s research around the stability

of biochar C, biochar mediated remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil, and

the use of biochar to recycle nutrients from human urine. Bioforsk has started a

virtual biochar competence center as part of the INTERREG IV project: Biochar

Climate Saving Soils (www.bioforsk.no/biochar).


http://www.bioforsk.no/biochar


Dr. Burkhard von Stackelberg

SmartCarbon AG

Teckstr. 25

71131 Jettingen, Germany

Phone: +49 7452 88 28 66

FAX: +49 7452 88 28 67


Fields of Expertise

Head of process optimization; project coordination research and development with

universities and research institutions; research and development (engineering

development / bio-carbon products and liquid nutrients)

Vitae

o PhD regarding neuronal networks

o Involvement in the development of energy-optimized cooling systems and ultrasonic sound systems, manufacturing engineering and simulations of thermodynamic systems.

o Contribution to several patented developments regarding brazing and soldering processes and for mechanical deformation techniques

o Involvement in a variety of industrial projects in the automotive supplier branch

o Involvement in industrial projects regarding heat conduction and evaluation software development at the Fraunhofer-Institut

o Several stunning break-throughs regarding image processing and material science developments at the edevis GmbH

o Scientific consultant for biofuel production

o Co-Founder of Addlogic Labs GmbH, a company dedicated to implement up-cycling environmental technologies

o Development of several worldwide patented key technologies for heat storage and transfer.

o Volunteer work in Guatemala and Indonesia regarding environmental education and applied research

o Voluntary activities in environmental education for children and young students



Prof. Dr. Christian E.W. Steinberg

Laboratory of Freshwater & Stress Ecology

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Arboretum, Späthstraße 80/81

12347 Berlin, Germany

Phone: +49(0)30 63224715

Fax: +49 (0)30 636 9446


Fields of Expertise

Limnology; Stress Ecology; Humic Substances; Biochars; Ecotoxicology

Physiological and molecular-biological biomarkers and responses to natural and

manmade chemical stress; effect evaluation of multiple exposure; alteration of adverse

effects by aquatic humic substances; development of stress defense mechanisms;

hormesis effects; and longevity, multiple stress resistance, transgenerational stress

resistance

Vitae

From July 95 chairholder of Freshwater Ecology at the Humboldt University, Berlin

From Jan. 1995 to Jun. 2005 Director of the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater and Inland

Fisheries, Berlin

1990 to 1994 GSF (National Laboratory of Environment and Health, Munich) – Institute

of Ecological Chemistry, Vice Director and Head of the Department of “Biotic

Remediation” and “Aquatic Ecotoxicology”

11/89 to 7/90 Fraunhofer Institute of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

(Schmallenberg), Head of the Department of Applied Ecology

9/75 to 10/89 Bavarian Water Board Munich, Head of the Limnological Department

Visiting professorships in Salzburg (4x), Wuhan (PR China) 2005-2009, Rio de Janeiro

2006, 2008, Kunming (PR China) 2009.



Birgit Stezenko

Kranemann GmbH, Hof 2

17194 Klocksin, Germany

Phone: +49(0)39933 71908

Fax: +49(0)39933 71910


Fields of Expertise

Our company is offering innovative machinery and systems, especially for special crops

and fruit harvesting and processing.

Vitae

Birgit Stezenko graduated from the National Taras-Schewtschenko University in Kiew /

Ukraine. After finishing her studies there in 1974 she was employed in a holding

company for agricultural engineering (KGT) in East-Berlin and responsible for

international relations and trade fairs, especially for Eastern Europe. Since the

foundation of the Kranemann GmbH in 1991 she has been operating in the

management and also in the marketing section of that company.



Dr. Kari Tiilikkala

MTT Plant Production Research

FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland

Phone: +358 400 986172


Fields of Expertise

Plant protection, IPM, climate change, pyrolysis, botanical pesticides, biochar

Vitae

Current position: Principal Research Scientist, Project Leader, PhD

Education: Dr. Sc. Agr. For.

Background: Integrated pest management research since 1978 focused on biological

control, IPM and organic farming. Many projects producing information for PRA and

impacts of climate change on pest risks.

Leader of IPM projects in Egypt 1991 – 2013. Member of EFSA Plant Health Panel 2006-

2009. Head of Plant Protection Institute in MTT 2000-2006. 36 refereed publications

and 285 other publications, one commercialized patent on use of pyrolysis products.

At the present leading R&D projects which are part of two MTT programs:

1) Environmentally friendly agriculture; productive agriculture in a clean environment

2) Smartly from renewable resources; efficiency to systems and utilization of by–

product flows.

In the workshop MTT will suggest development and testing of biochar based filtering

techniques as a new biomass research line and topic for collaboration in the future.



Dave Tjiok

SmartCarbon AG

Teckstr. 25

71131 Jettingen, Germany

Phone: +49 7452 88 28 66

FAX: +49 7452 88 28 67


Fields of Expertise

Member of the board, responsible for technology, research and development, strategic

business development of SmartCarbon AG, cooperation management regarding

technology and product development, applied product development, coordination of

research and development programs

Vitae

o University studies of Engineering and chemistry at Stuttgart and Karlsruhe,

o Founder of the Science Initiative THINKenergy

o Co-Founder of Addlogic Labs GmbH

o Development of new innovative glues based on the principles of "cradle-to-cradle" out of low-grade plastics

o Participation/Conduction/Management in several research and development projects regarding the development and implementation of novel recycling technologies in Germany and Southeast Asia.

o co-inventor of several medical technologies and treatments

o co-inventor of novel waste water processing treatments

o research and development of new biogas plant concepts, development of self-sustaining social business concepts /models

o In the companies Addlogic Labs GmbH as well as SmartCarbon AG he was crucial in the development of several worldwide patented key technologies for heat storage and transfer.

o prize winner at the science competition "Jugend forscht" for young academics

o prize winner at the international inventors competition



Dr. Tõnu Tõnutare

Estonian University of Life Sciences

Puiestee 24-2

Luunja, 62222, Estonia

Phone: +37 2511 29 85

FAX: +372 7313 539


Fields of Expertise

Agriculture, soil chemistry, organic soils, greenhouse gases, laboratory analyses,

analytical equipment.

Vitae

I graduate the Tartu University in 1989 and got the diploma by speciality of analytical

chemistry. From 1989 to 1995 I was working in the department of Analytical Chemistry

of Tartu University. From 1995 up to today I am working in the Estonian University of

Life Sciences in the department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry. From 2008 I started

PhD studies in same university. My current position involved the role of Head of

laboratory of Soil Science and Agrochemistry department.

The main focus of my research is the soil chemistry (total and plant available ions and

elements, spectrometric and chromatographic methods), organic matter in soil (organic

compounds and emission of greenhouse gases, FTIR, pyrolythic and chromatographic

methods), plant chemistry (total elements, vitamines, anthocyanins, antioxidants,

elementar, titrimetric and spectrometric methods). I am also involved in work for some

science and laboratory development projects. I have published more than 10 research

articles. I have participated at 7 international conferences. My science CV can be found

on Estonian Science portal: www.etis.ee.


http://www.etis.ee/


Abstracts The effect of biochar application to the light-textured soils with different fertility on the N2O emission, crop yield and soil properties in a small-scale field experiment Agrophysical Research Institute, ARI, St. Petersburg, Russia The small-scale field experiment was conducted during the growing season of 2012 on two plots of loamy-sand Spodosol with different soil fertility which resulted from different soil management since 2003. The high-fertile soil received farm yard manure and was limed regularly while the low-fertile soil was only fertilized with mineral fertilizers. The two soils significantly differed in soil organic carbon, soil bulk density, soil pH and other properties.

Twenty bottomless plastic buckets, 22 liters in volume and 30 cm in diameter, were dug into the soil at both plots. Four different treatments were used in the biochar experiment: “control” (no mineral fertilizer, no biochar), “biochar” (12 t ha-1), “N-fertilizer” (90 kg N ha-1) and “biochar+N-fertilizer” (biochar 12 t ha-1 and mineral N-fertilizer 90 kg N ha-1). There were 5 randomized replicates of each treatment at every plot. Biochar and mineral fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) were applied to every bucket individually and mixed up with the soil just before the crop (barley with under sown grass-clover mixture) was planted.

Biochar was derived from wood and was analyzed for heavy metals, pH, C and N content. The information on daily rainfall and air temperature was received from the meteorological station situated in about 200 meters from the experimental plot.

Gas samples to calculate direct N2O fluxes were collected once a week with closed chambers during the growing season and analyzed for N2O concentration with a gas chromatograph fitted with an ECD-detector. Once in 10 days soil samples for soil bulk density, water content and mineral nitrogen were collected from the top soil. Water-retention properties of the soils as well as soil swelling and shrinkage with and without biochar were measured. Barley yield was noted at the end of the growing season. Mean values and errors of mean values were calculated for all the measured parameters.

It was found that both soils with biochar had higher water-holding capacity and under the same meteorological conditions could hold more plant-available water. That could have a positive effect on plant growth especially at the early stage of plan development as the area is prone to late spring and early summer droughts.

The results of the experiment have shown that the lowest cumulative N2O fluxes were produced by the low-fertile soil with “control” and “biochar” treatments. The cumulative N2O fluxes from the high-fertile soil with the same treatments were almost twice higher. Application of N-fertilizer into both soils significantly increased N2O cumulative flux compared to unfertilized soils while the soils with “biochar+N-fertilizer” treatment produced almost the same amount of N2O as under “control” and “biochar” treatments. The N2O flux per crop unit was the lowest under ‘biochar+N-fertilizer” treatment.

Barley yields in the experiment significantly increased in a row “control” < “biochar” < “N-fertilizer” < “biochar+N-fertilizer” for high-fertile soil. For the low-fertile soil the yield increased the same way but the increase between “N-fertilizer” and “biochar+N-fertilizer” treatments were insignificant. Application of the biochar to light-textured Spodosol with both low and high fertility had a positive effect on soil water-holding capacity and barley yield. It also reduced N2O emission from both soils fertilized with mineral fertilizer but had no effect on N2O emission when the mineral fertilizer was not applied.


Innovations for fibre crop processing technologies – examples from a successful science-industry cooperation in Germany H.-J. Gusovius & J. Budde; Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim, Department of Post Harvest Technology, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, D-14469 Potsdam-Bornim, email: [email protected] B. Stezenko & H.-H. Kranemann; Kranemann GmbH, Hof 2, D-17194 Blücherhof, email: [email protected]

Products based on natural fibres gain an increasing interest from industry and consumers for

several years. Late 80th to middle 90th of last century political measures on EU and national levels

lead to a renaissance of native fibre crops like hemp, flax or stinging nettle across Europe, the (re-)

establishment of relevant processing facilities as well the implementation of fibre products in e.g.

European automotive or building industry.

The long period between the end of traditional bastfibre utilization Europe between mid of 20th

century and the new era led to a break regarding technological progress along the value added

chain. That time technologies used to harvest, process - that is decortication, cleaning and refining

– those crops to fibres and shives had to be characterized as not compatible with industrial

demand on economic and quality competitive products. In close cooperation with the special

purpose machine manufacturer “Kranemann GmbH” specializing in specialized crops, such as

hemp, sea buckthorn or materials handling and metering technology, ATB's scientist group began

relevant research and development activities starting from 1997. Main goals of the still on going

work are the development and implementation of technologies which enable the production of

high quality fibres for technical applications on an economic valuable level for both the farmer as

well the processor. Beside others the presentation is dealing with selected results from this work.

Several innovations for the harvest and the processing of bastfibre crops will be presented:

o Machine concepts for the harvest and de-seeding of hemp

o An innovative machine concept to realize a new decortication principle including its fibre

quality related as well as economic evaluation

o A new technology and device to clean and grad the woody part of bastfibre crops (shives)

o Design of whole processing lines




Natural fibre research at Faserinstitut Bremen Holger Fischer, Faserinstitut Bremen e. V. -FIBRE-, D-28359 Bremen

The presentation gives an overview about the Faserinstitut Bremen, starting with a brief look on

the history and presenting the actual activities with emphasis on natural fibre research.

The Faserinstitut has a fully equipped and internationally recognized test laboratory with qualified

personnel and leading competency in the research of test methods and natural fibres. In addition,

the institute has central importance in the international harmonization of tests and test methods.

The activities of FIBRE cover the fields of quality testing & fibre quality management, fibre

measurement technology, renewable resources and composite materials. Starting with the

creation of the fibre itself, products are developed along the value-added chain on the base of

FIBRE’s fundamental competence in the area of fibre analysis. These products include the

manufacture of technical and clothing textiles made of natural or chemical fibres, the application

of natural fibres in composite materials or the development of completely bio-based composites.

Examples are given from recent and actual projects to demonstrate

enzymatic (biotechnological) bast fibre separation,

bast fibre reinforced bioplastics for automotive use, and

new varieties with good fibre qualities & higher yields.

In addition special methods of fibre and product analysis (single-element tensile test, odour

measurement etc.) are presented.


Characterised Cannabis Germplasm for Crop International Workshop Improvement Sergey V. Grigoryev., Tatiana V. Shelenga, Ksenia V. Illarionova Ph.D., N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry (VIR), St. Petersburg, Russia

Hemp is one of the ancient crop in Russian agriculture. The maximum of industrial acreages

exceeded 950 000 hectares in 1949. In early 20th century, hemp was cultivated in various climatic

agricultural zones. In Northern Russia – in proximity to the northern limit of agriculture. Hemp was

cultivated in the most northeast of Russia (about 65° N, 153° E). So growing Cannabis is very

genetically diverse. The N.I. Vavilov Institute (VIR) has been involved as well in hemp research since

the beginning of the last century.

Phenotypic authenticity and genetic integrity of previously preserved Cannabis germplasm are

being studied since 1997. To enlarge sufficiently reduced genetic diversity ex situ preserved

Cannabis germplasm, to make the accessions attractive and widely available for breeding programs

around the world, series of collecting missions have been performed around all territories of

Russian Federation. About 45 000 km have been covered round Central Russia, Siberia, Far East,

Transbaikalia, Caspian Sea regions, Caucasus as well Cola Peninsula, etc. Cannabis unique

germplasm highly rich in traits and origins – weedy, wild, ruderal accessions, local landraces, folk

domestic cultivars, industrial varieties have been collected and preserved. Fiber yield and quality,

fatty acid profile, cannabinoids profile estimated and characterized of newly collected accessions.

Hundreds newly collected original seed accessions should be available for diverse breeding tasks

round Europe.


Sustainable uses of biomass in research carried out by Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Poznań, Poland Krysztof Heller, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, ul. WojskaPolskiego 71 B, 60-630 Poznań, Poland, e-mail: [email protected]

The Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants (INF&MP) is a public interdisciplinary research

centre, involved in complex research dedicated to obtaining, processing and applying natural

fibrous (flax, hemp, silk, wool, etc.) and herbal raw materials. The multidirectional character of

research conducted in the INF&MP results from the complex interests of the Institute in natural

fibres and herbs, beginning from genetic engineering, agricultural technology, and cultivation,

through natural fibre and herbs processing to their use in the textile and non-textile industries. By-

products from lignocellulosic plants processing are utilized for lignocellulosic boards, composites,

and bio-fuel or after chemical transformation for agrochemicals which are applied in pharmacies,

dietetic foods and cosmetics. Medicinal and fibrous plants are sources of raw materials used for

the production of bio-products such as: agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, diet food, feed, and

cosmetics.

The INF&MP is participating in numerous national and international research projects, including UE

Framework Projects, Cost Actions. In international projects such as FIBRA (Fibre Crops as a

sustainable source of bio-based material for industrial products in Europe and China), 4FCROPS

(Future Crops for Food, Feed, Fibre and Fuel, FP7 212811), Crops2Industry (Non-food Crops-to-

Industry schemes in EU27, FP 7), as well as Project EUROCROP (Agricultural Research for Improving

Arable Crop Competitiveness) the usefulness of fibrous plants in non-food industries (construction,

automotive, paper, insulation, energy, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries) was evaluated.

Currently carried out in 4 national projects (polish program „Innovative Economy 2007-2013”)

research is being conducted in the area of: 1) the evaluation of biomass plant yield for bio-fuel use,

2) non-waste technology for hemp cellulose, ethanol and feed protein production 3) innovative

technology for pellet production in a biomass granulation plant „Widok Energia”, 4) and the

development of innovative technology for second generation bio-ethanol from sorghum and

miscanthus biomass.



Greenhouse gas fluxes in char amended soil Jürgen Kern, Christiane Dicke, Giacomo Lanza, Judy Libra, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering in Potsdam-Bornim (ATB), Germany

One of the most crucial points in the application of biochar to soil for carbon sequestration is its

recalcitrance. In contrast to pyrolysis biochars, which have been shown to possess long-term

stability, there is little information available on the stability of chars, derived from hydrothermal

carbonization. This low temperature process (200-250°C) has been applied to carbonize hemp dust,

a residual byproduct of the hemp fiber production, which has no application, yet. This study was

designed to get information about the behavior of hemp char in a carbon-poor sand.

Aerobic incubations were run over a period of four months in order to measure the accumulated

concentrations of CO2 and N2O. During the first month, high emission rates of CO2 were observed in

all three treatments (i. sandy soil with 1% C, ii. sandy soil enriched to 2% C with non-washed hemp

char, iii. sandy soil enriched to 2% C with washed hemp char). Over this time, the most CO2 per

gram ash free dry matter was released from the treatment of sand mixed with non-washed hemp

char. Washing of the hemp char resulted in a significantly reduced emission rate of CO2. This may

be explained by the removal of soluble and easily mineraliseable carbon compounds from the HTC

char matrix by the wash water. After one month of incubation, CO2 release followed a linear

pattern. At the same time in the char/sand mixtures N2O emission was reduced by 30-40%

compared to the pure sandy soil. This benefit in N2O reduction seems to be very effective in chars,

derived from hydrothermal carbonization.

In field experiments, no significant difference was found so far between different soil treatments

with C4 enriched biochar during the first months. This, and the absence of a C4 contribution to the

emitted CO2, suggests that the emission from biochar can be neglected so far compared to the

main pool of soil organic matter. Further studies are needed to confirm the stability of chars during

warm seasons with enhanced mineralization.

Impact of hemp char and its treatment on CO2 emission (AFDM = ash free dry matter) Brown dots: sand with HTC chars non-washed White dots: sand with HTC chars washed with water Green dots: pure sand

05

101520253035

0 30 60 90 120 150Incubation period (days)

CO2 r

elea

sed

(mg

g-1

AFDM

)


Field trials, old kiln soils and visions for biochar research and development Tor Kihlberg. Carboinventus AB. Valhallagatan 14, 75334 Uppsala, Sweden, [email protected] Ongoing biochar research Field trials: As part of the EU Interregproject “Climate Saving Soils” a three year field trial was performed outside Jönköping, Sweden. A 0-15 % yield increase was obtained with spring barley on a fertile silty loam in a three-year trial with biochar (0, 10, 20 t/ha). Most commonly a 5 % increase was observed. Loading the biochar with aqueous fertilizer gave a 12 % higher yield increase on the second year, compared with the treatment were fertilizer and biochar was added separately. Analyses of a 70 years old kiln soil:In the charcoal rich part of a oats + barley field, containing up to 1000 ton charcoal/he, the soil had 150 % higher water quota and up to 12 times higher concentrations of P and K. The quotas between different nutrients indicate that the enrichment probably was due to accumulation of fertilizer during 70 years, rather than ash residues from the kilns. Furthermore, in a dry year there was a 32 % increased plant mass yield in the charcoal rich area. Biochar paradigms and visions. Biochar should not be seen as a techno-fix but as an entrance to sustainable system solutions. Economical feasibility will not be reached unless ecological, social and economical systems are strengthened in the process. A good way to obtain economical feasibility is by stacking values and services, preferably with respect to each batch of biochar. Begin with the fundamental: climate compensation through carbon sequestration; and soil improvement. Add: immobilization of poisonous and inconvenient compounds; and process facilitation. Expanded use of charcoal as biofuel will facilitate expansion of biochar use, since infrastructure for transports and production will be developed, an open market will be established and the price of biochar will be minimized. Examples of research interests. Terra preta sanitation, using biochar as bulk agent in compostation of latrine. Possible advantages: minimization of inconvenient smell; increased decomposition rate; reduced loss of nitrogen; improved soil conditioning properties of the biochar. LCA-Analysis of biochar as domestic animal food additive. Possible advantages: better economy by function stacking; improved animal health; reduced nitrogen loss; improved biochar. Development of common infrastructure, certification systems and business models for charcoal as fuel and biochar use.



Novel Hemp Based Hybrid Textile Materials: Latvia's Opportunities and Challenges Tālis Laizāns, Latgale Agriculture Research Centre, Ltd; Latvian Industrial Hemp Association, E-

mail: [email protected]

Flax and hemp breeding and further use for production of non-textile products in Latvia discovers

complicated picture. An important task for the Latvian scientists is obtaining high yielding, middle

early hemp varieties. For centuries hemp was used in various spheres and today’s knowledge and

scientific ideas offers wide range of new applications of hemp fibre, shives, oil. The very challenging

is idea to develop technical textile products based on glass and hemp fibre proposed by Latvian

researchers. It is assumed that novel fibre products would be used as component for development

electrical power sources, electrochemical reactors and CO2 convertors as well as for filters and

other materials.

Key words: hemp, fibre, novel materials



Industrial hemp as an energy crop Thomas Prade, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, [email protected]

Bioenergy is currently the fastest growing source of renewable energy. Tighter sustainability

criteria for the production of vehicle biofuels and an increasing interest in combined heat and

power (CHP) production from biomass have led to a demand for high-yielding energy crops with

good conversion efficiencies.

Industrial hemp was studied as an energy crop for production of biogas and solid biofuel. Based on

field trials, the development of biomass and energy yield, the specific methane yield and elemental

composition of the biomass were studied over the growing and senescence period of the crop, i.e.

from autumn to the following spring.

The energy yield of hemp for both solid biofuel and biogas production proved similar or superior to

that of most energy crops common in northern Europe. The high energy yield of biogas from hemp

is based on a high biomass yield per hectare and good specific methane yield with large potential

for increases by pre-treatment of the biomass. The methane energy yield per hectare is highest in

autumn when hemp biomass yield is highest.

The energy yield per hectare of hemp for use as a solid biofuel is highest in autumn when the

biomass yield is highest. However, important combustion-related fuel properties, such as moisture,

alkali, chlorine and ash content and ash melting temperature, are significantly improved when

industrial hemp is harvested in spring instead of in autumn. Major fuel properties of hemp are not

significantly influenced by annual cultivation conditions, latitude or choice of cultivar.

Net energy yields per hectare and energy output-to-input ratios of hemp are above-average in

most applications, and are highest for use of hemp as solid biofuel. Use of hemp as a biogas

substrate suffers from higher energy inputs and lower conversion efficiencies, but produces a high-

quality vehicle fuel.

Advantages over other energy crops are also found outside the energy balance, e.g. low pesticide

requirements, good weed competition and suitability as break crop in cereal-oriented crop

rotations. Improvements in hemp biomass and energy yields may strengthen its competitive

position against maize and sugar beet for biogas production and against perennial energy crops for

solid biofuel production.



Focus on biochar: agriculture related research and opportunities in Estonia Henn Raave1, Liia Kukk2, Helis Rossner2, Merrit Shanskiy2, Tõnu Tõnutare2, Alar Astover2 Estonian University of Life Sciences, 1Department of Field Crop and Grassland Husbandry and 2Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia Corresponding authors: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Estonian University of Life Sciences EULS is the centre of research and development in agriculture, forestry, animal and veterinary science, rural life and economy, food science and environmentally friendly technologies. Departments of Field Crop and Grassland Husbandry (DFcGh) and Soil Science and Agrochemistry (DSsAg) are part of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (IAES) of EULS. More specifically our competencies in DFcGh and DSsAg are covering the range of topics as long term impacts of different land use systems (arable-, grassland, abandoned land etc.) – conventional versus organic farming together with alternative organic fertilizers utilization (liquid manure, sewage sludge, green manure crops, biomass ash). Various studies are carried out in the fields of different soils properties (chemical, physical, humus status etc.) looking at their diversity, integrity and sustainability in agroecosystems. Main key words of soils related studies are soil compaction, C turnover, molecular markers in soils, land use planning by using GIS and soil maps, biochar application as improver of soil conditions. We have also the knowledge on analyses of the spatial variability of biomass resource (reed canary grass, alder etc.) depending on soil total nitrogen content by the use of crop yield modelling. These empirical regression-type yield models has been developed and integrated to the Estonian large-scale digital soil map to evaluate site-specific biomass potential in the region. Among of the other topics since 2010 we have been studied biochar effect on crop productivity, plant and soil characteristics, nutrient leaching, GHG emission, composting and compost quality. We have three on going experiments with biochar from which two are pot experiments and one field experiment. At the present we are running a small project to study the effect of biochar during composting on microbiological diversity. In future studies we see a need to pay more attention and find an additional collaboration to cover the following topics: (a) biochar key parameters to determine the absorption-desorption properties as a nutrient buffer in soil and as a sorbent for heavy metals and herbicide residues capture; (b) biochars “footprint”; (c) the main qualitative parameters of biochar, which are determining its potential effect to soils chemical and physical properties, including those properties practical determination; (d) the interactions between biochar and soil and to study biochar impact on crop yield as a function of soil and biochar characteristics; (e) biochar pre-treatment (composted, blended with organic amendment) and its impact on the agronomic value of biochar; (f) biochar produced from herbaceous feedstock (material specific properties and effects). Keywords: agricultural research, crop science, soil science, land use scenarios, crop production, biomass potential, yield modelling, geographic information system.




Current activities and future prospects: GHG emissions from biochar amended boreal agricultural soils – emphasis on nitrogen Silvennoinen1* H., O’Toole1 A., Carnol2 M., Knoth de Zarruk1 K., Dörsch2 P., Rasse1 D. 1Bioforsk Soil and Environment, Ås, Norway, *[email protected],2University of Liège, Dept. Plant and Microbial Ecology, Liege, Belgium,3Norwegian University of Life Sciences Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Ås, Norway Biochar is a very potent tool for carbon sequestration. The current challenge is to clarify whether biochar amendments to different ecosystems lead to changes in local greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4 and N2O) budgets. Agricultural soils are significant sources of N2O and therefore management practices (including biochar additions) have a great impact to atmospheric N2O concentrations. Literature regarding biochar’s impact on N2O fluxes is contradictory most likely due to the complex (biologically and chemically) regulation of N2O dynamics and differences in biochar properties (often not well defined or poorly reported), fertilization practices, soil quality and local conditions. Several ex situ studies report either decreased or increased N2O fluxes due to biochar addition, yet the exact mechanism behind the changes remains unclear. Few in situ data are available, and the duration of the biochar induced shift in N2O fluxes has not been explicitly addressed at the field scale. Here, we present data on N2O fluxes and ancillary parameters from 1) mesocosms amended with wheat straw derived biochar (Knoth de Zarruk et al. in prep.) and 2) an agricultural field amended with miscanthus derived biochar (O’Toole et al. in prep.). Plant free soil (from agricultural field) mesocosms were biochar amended with rates corresponding to 10, 50, and 100 t C ha-1 field load. In order to study the importance of physical change in soil structure due to biochar amendment, an additional treatment with perlite (with same particle size as the biochar; corresponding 50 t ha-1 field load) was included. Nitrous oxide fluxes during the fertilization peak (in the first 16 days after fertilization) were significantly reduced, but only at higher biochar loads. Similar reduction was not observed in the corresponding perlite treatment. Therefore, the lower N2O flux with high biochar dose resulted from biochar induced biological and/or chemical changes. Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured from a mineral agricultural field under crop cultivation (rotation between oats and barley) during the growth season 2012. Randomized plots with 8 and 25 t biochar-C ha-1 and control without amendment (4 replicates each) had been established in autumn 2010. New plots with 25 t biochar-C ha-1 amendment were created in early spring 2012. Differences in N2O fluxes between treatments were not statistically significant, yet the sites freshly amended with the highest biochar load had the highest N2O flux in the start of the growing season after fertilization and the smallest N2O fluxes in the autumn after harvest. The total cumulative emissions calculated over the growth season were the lowest from the plots with the highest biochar dose amended in 2010. Nitrate and ammonium concentrations, pH, bulk densities and moisture contents were measured, but showed no significant differences between treatments. Nitrogen cycling processes (N mineralization and potential nitrification) were measured on soil samples taken from the field plots in autumn 2012. Additionally, the potential impact of biochar applications on the metabolic diversity of soil heterotrophic bacteria and soil respiration was assessed. To conclude, biochar does not seem to significantly increase N2O fluxes and it may have potential even to reduce them. Nevertheless, more field data are required to assess the potential. In addition, fundamental basic research is crucial for understanding the mechanisms behind the changes. During the next years we aim to continue the field trial for assessing the impact of biochar to N2O fluxes. In addition to the data presented here, Bioforsk centers it’s research around the stability of biochar C (Budai et al. 2011, and O’Toole, 2012), biochar mediated remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil and the use of biochar to recycle nutrients from human urine (O’Toole and Paruch, 2011). Bioforsk has started a virtual biochar competence center as part of the INTERREG IV project: Biochar Climate Saving Soils References: Budai, Alice; Abiven, Samuel; Rasse, Daniel. Biochar: Structure, Stability, and Sequestration. Proceedings Nordic Biochar Conference 2011, Oslo; O’Toole, A. and A. M. Paruch Using biochar to recycle nutrients from human urine back to agriculture. Poster Nordic Biochar Conference 2011, Oslo; O´Toole, Adam;Fauches, Raphael; Rasse, Daniel. Stability of miscanthusbiochar under field conditions in Norway. 1st International Summer School on Biochar: Biochar Crossroads; 2012, Potsdam.

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Side Effects of Char Substrates Detected by Molecular Biological Tools

Christian E.W. Steinberg1, Shumon Chakrabarty1, Kurt Spokas2, Dimitrios Kalderis3, Jürgen Kern4 1Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Laboratory of Freshwater & Stress Ecology, 12437 Berlin, Germany 2US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA 3Technical University Hania, Crete, Greece 4Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim e. V., Germany Major purposes of char substrate application are soil management and carbon sequestration1,

whereby the term “soil management” includes improvement of water retention and increase of

nutrient availability. Recently, side effects of char applications on non-target organisms have come

into the focus of scientific interests2,3. For instance, exposure of the nematode Caenorhabditis

legans to Brazilian Terra preta reduced the expression of a gene, homolog to the vertebrate p53.

This gene is central in processes that increase the health of and prevents cancer in exposed

organisms.

To get a broader overview of stress response patterns of C. elegans we applied a variety of

transgenic strains that possessed the green fluorescing protein after a specific reporter. The

reporter genes comprised: biotransformation phase I and II (cyp35A; gst-4), oxidative stress (sod-

3), estrogenicity (vit-2), and general stress (via stress shock proteins: hsp-16; hsp-4). All char

substrates tested so far induced the biotransformation phase II (Fig. 1) and an oxidative stress.

Unexpectedly, all pyrolysis chars tested possessed estrogenic activity and induced also an

unspecific stress response by activating the HSP70-response (hsp-4). These results request a

sophisticated chemical analytics of these char substrates.

Fig. 1: Example of a green-fluorescing C. elegans exposed to a

char substrate. The gene encoding for the green fluorescence

was upstream of gst-4, a glutathiontransferase crucial for

oocyte maturation (a biotransformation phase II enzyme).

1) Lehmann, J. et al. Biochar effects on soil biota – A review. Soil Biol. Biochem.43, 1812–1836 (2011). 2) Chakrabarti, S., Menzel, R. & Steinberg, C. E. W. Selected natural humic materials induce and char substrates

repress a gene in Caenorhabditis elegans homolog to human anticancer P53. Ann. Environ. Sci.5, 1–6 (2011). 3) Busch, D. et al. Simple biotoxicity tests for evaluation of carbonaceous soil additives: Establishment and

reproducibility of four test procedures. J. Environ. Qual.41, 1023-1032 (2012).


Use of pyrolysis products in agriculture Kari Tiilikkala, MTT Plant Production Research, Finland, e-mail: [email protected]

In MTT use of pyrolysis products in agriculture has been studied since 2003. During the first years

our focus has been on use of wood based pyrolysis liquids as pesticides. Our goal was to prove that

synthetic chemicals can be replaced with biodegradable wood vinegar and tar. Chemical

composition of wood vinegar has been published and commercialization options have been

described. Use of pyrolysis products for odor control and composting process has been studied too.

At present studies for showing the effect of carbonization degree on quality of biochar is in

progress. The work has been done in a close collaboration with VTT, University of Helsinki and

SMEs. In the MTT several new research lines have been selected recently. Use of pyrolysis

technology and pyrolysis products for improvement of nutrient cycling and mitigation of climate

change as well as improvement of waste management will be studied. Development and testing of

biochar based filtering techniques for control of nutrient and pesticide leaching will be one of ways

to use biomasses in the future. Leaching of nutrients from fields to rivers, lakes and to the Baltic

Sea is one of the most important environmental problems in our agriculture. Warming climate will

increase leaching risks and novel technologies are urgently needed. Biochar based systems will be

one of the options worth to be studied in good collaboration among all the Baltic Sea countries.


towards high throughput analysis of carbon fluxes in biological

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