[Terrapreta] Lobbying for a biochar seat at FAO's upcoming conference

[Laurens Rademakers]

The FAO will host a high-level international conference on world food security, climate change and bioenergy in Rome, 3-5 June. Particular focus will be on deforestation and climate change in the tropics.
Maybe it's a bit late, but shouldn't we be lobbying for a seat at this conference? Biochar is probably the single most feasible concept to tackle both deforestation and food insecurity at the same time.

Other concepts to slow deforestation, like REDD ("avoided deforestation" and/or "compensated reduction"), are interesting but highly problematic (it's a top-down scheme, could result in corruption and social dramas, it doesn't offer slash-and-burn farmers alternative livelihoods, doesn't really address food security or rural electrification, and can even result in bigger poverty when the money doesn't reach the communities or is squandered; biochar and bioenergy systems coupled to it would be a bottom-up approach that offers direct income through carbon markets, improved food security and energy to these communities).

Anyone want to help lobby to get biochar on the agenda of the FAO's conference?

Regards, 
Lawrence

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