Negative carbon emissions from agricultural soils have been stressed as important but yet understudied piece to combat climate change. Similarly, the inclusion of waste-derived material, such as biochar in crop production is viewed as a natural climatic solution to mitigate CO2 emissions in addition to promoting soil health. These positive benefits of biochar are attributed to its recalcitrant and unique physicochemical properties. Yet, the performance of biochar in soils has been unclear and can differ specifically under different climatic and agronomic practices. To address these issues, this project aims to use laboratory incubation experiments in conjunction with mechanistic models to gauge the environmental benefits of biochar and its overall influence on soil CO2 emissions. LBNL researchers are engaged in modeling aspects of this project through UC sponsored Global Food Initiative Fellowships. This small piece is part of a multimillion-dollar project led by Gerardo C. Diaz and his interdisciplinary team of UC Merced faculty on “Mobile Biochar Production for Methane Emission Reduction and Soil Amendment.” Read more about this cool project HERE.