Grant: College - University Idea to Innovation Grants

Our proposed project is aimed at building northern commercial and technology transfer capacity to overcome the technical hurdles associated with biochar commercialization in arctic environments. We will also identify the optimum biochar formulation for hydrocarbon degradation in the north. Biochar is a term for a product that results from heating various biological ingredients, such as wood, fish or animal bone under oxygen limited conditions. Biochar has been investigated extensively in southern climates and has proven to have many benefits for the environment, including increased soil pH, water holding capacity, and plant growth, as well as promoting hydrocarbon degradation at contaminated sites. Two companies that operate in northern Canada:Nunatta Environmental and Federated Coop Limited (FCL), would like to have this biochar developed for their northern hydrocarbon restoration needs. In addition, Nunatta Environmental in Iqaluit, NT has been searching for new commercial opportunities in which they can use their expertise in ex-situ (landfarm) hydrocarbon management and Zakus Farms, which already produces biochar in Whitehorse, Yukon, would like to develop a product for restoration to diversify their product line. Before both of these companies can begin selling biochar based restoration services in the north, we need to determine exactly how to deliver the biochar under northern conditions so it is not readily blown or washed away. We will also work at our northern sites owned and operated by Nunatta Environmental and FCL to determine the exact benefits of the biochar to theenvironmental issue at hand. Our project will bring together the needed expertise to develop biochar production in Iqaluit and Whitehorse, reducing restoration costs and increasing restoration success in northern Canada by providing a local source of biochar that is specifically formulated for northern restoration.