Biochar's cost constraints are overcome in small‐scale farming in tropical soils in lower‐income countries

Biochar has been lauded for its potential to mitigate climate change, increase crop yields and reverse land degradation in tropical agricultural systems. Despite its benefits, confusion persists about whether the use of biochar is financially feasible as a soil ameliorant. A comprehensive review of previous studies of biochar's financial feasibility was performed (33 relevant publications). Financial performance appraisal (US$Mg‐1 biochar) and greenhouse gas abatement cost estimates (US$ Mg‐1 CO2e) were used to gauge the financial feasibility of the biochar scenarios within each publication. Ordinary Least Squares Multiple Linear Regression was used to evaluate the predictive capacity of scenario financial feasibility as dependent on variables including national income levels, climatic conditions, pyrolysis technology scales and pyrolysis capabilities. Analysis revealed that scenarios where biochar was applied targeting yield increases in high‐value crops in tropical locations with low incomes and biochar‐focused small‐scale production, were overall significant predictors of biochar scenario financial feasibility. We find that the average abatement cost of biochar applied in ‘lower‐income countries' is ‐US$58 Mg‐1 CO2e (financially feasible) compared with +US$93 Mg‐1 CO2e in ‘higher‐income countries' (not financially feasible). Climate policies of lower‐income countries in tropical climates should consider biochar as an input for small‐scale climate smart agriculture to address land degradation in tropical agricultural systems. Based on recent evidence it is suggested that biochar fertilizers, a value‐added biochar product, could present a commercially feasible pathway for biochar value‐chain development in higher‐income countries

Understandings of sustainable corporate governance by Australian managed investment schemes and some implications for small-scale forestry in Australia

This study reveals that managers of Australian managed investment schemes understand sustainable corporate governance as a mix of financial, natural environment and social outcomes. The managers that were interviewed prioritized financial aspects of business performance but acknowledged that sustained financial performance was only possible if positive natural environment outcomes and positive social outcomes were also sustained. In this context, the managers expressed qualified support for the development of small-scale forestry in Australia

Intensification of coffee systems can increase the effectiveness of REDD mechanisms

In agricultural production systems with shade trees, such as coffee, the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from production intensification can be compensated for, or even outweighed, by the increase in carbon sequestration into above-ground and below-ground tree biomass. We use data from a long-term coffee agroforestry experiment in Costa Rica to evaluate the trade-offs between intensification, profitability and net greenhouse gas emissions through two scenarios. First, by assessing the GHG emissions associated with conversion from shaded to more profitable full-sun (un-shaded) systems, we calculate the break-even carbon price which would need to be paid to offset the opportunity cost of not converting. The price per tCO2e of emissions reduction required to compensate for the coffee production revenue foregone varies widely from 9.3 to 196.3 US$ amongst different shaded systems. Second, as an alternative to intensification, production area can be extended onto currently forested land. We estimate this land-use change required to compensate for the shortfall in profitability from retaining lower intensity coffee production systems. For four of the five shade types tested, this land-use change causes additional GHG emissions >5 tCO2e ha−1 yr−1 resulting in net emissions >8 tCO2e ha−1 yr−1 for the whole system. We conclude that instead, by intensifying production, mechanisms similar to REDD that are based on reducing emissions through avoided land-use change (REAL) could play a major role in increasing the climate change mitigation success of agroforestry systems at the same time as aiding REDD through reducing pressure for further forest conversion to agriculture

A Novel Neurotrophic Drug for Cognitive Enhancement and Alzheimer's Disease

Currently, the major drug discovery paradigm for neurodegenerative diseases is based upon high affinity ligands for single disease-specific targets. For Alzheimer's disease (AD), the focus is the amyloid beta peptide (Aß) that mediates familial Alzheimer's disease pathology. However, given that age is the greatest risk factor for AD, we explored an alternative drug discovery scheme that is based upon efficacy in multiple cell culture models of age-associated pathologies rather than exclusively amyloid metabolism. Using this approach, we identified an exceptionally potent, orally active, neurotrophic molecule that facilitates memory in normal rodents, and prevents the loss of synaptic proteins and cognitive decline in a transgenic AD mouse model

Expanding woodland regeneration on marginal southern Queensland pastures using market-based instruments: a landowners' perspective

Data collected during interviews with private landowners are used to identify important constraints on how market-based instruments can be used to expand woodland regeneration on marginal pastures in the southern Queensland region of Australia. Landowners highlighted three types of constraints: those related to the uncertainty over what rules will govern a mandatory carbon trading scheme in Australia; those related to how landowners can measure and sell their carbon credits; and those related to whether the initiative will be profitable for landowners. Case analysis of the ‘Emissions Biodiversity Exchange Project for the 21st Century’ (EBEX21)program of Landcare Research New Zealand are then used to reveal ways in which similar constraints have been successfully addressed in the context of marginal pastures in New Zealand. The EBEX21 program demonstrates how a government policy initiative can provide support to landowners by: (1) informing landowners about carbon trading opportunities (2) ensuring satisfactory regeneration of woodlands (including the use of appropriate practices for fire and livestock exclusion and pest and weed management) (3) helping landowners measure and verify their carbon credits; and (4) providing a transparent system (through carboNZero) for landowners to engage with potential buyers of carbon credits