B4SS demonstration workshop in San Ramon, Peru (February 2017)

After attending the B4SS training workshop in San Ramon in May 2016, APRODES took the initiative to do the same training workshop with farmers in Anta, a province near Cusco, where APRODES is conducting a project to strengthen local farmers’ involvement and negotiating power in product development and commercialization of quinoa. With the biochar produced during the workshop, a field trial was established in a quinoa field that B4SS project director, Ruy Anaya de la Rosa, was invited to see. The 2,000 m² field received about 1 ton of biochar that was produced from wood and straw mixed with chicken manure in a Kon Tiki soil pit kiln. Unfortunately, a comparative field trial was not included. Although we visited another quinoa field that was supposedly planted at the same time and seemed to experience less biomass growth than in the biochar-amended field, the effects of biochar in this quinoa field cannot be scientifically assessed for this season. Yet, this did not seem to bother other farmers who are eager to try biochar in their fields.

Farmer explains how the biochar formulation was made in a Kon Tiki soil pit near Cusco, Peru

A biochar formulation was applied to quinoa fields near Cusco

A quinoa field that did not receive biochar but cannot be used as a comparison

Then we went to San Ramon, the central jungle of Peru, to demonstrate the operation of Kon Tiki kilns to B4SS participant farmers that have not received training, and monitor the B4SS biochar field trials. At APRODES’ camp site, Dr Brenton Ladd opened the farmers’ workshop with a presentation of the potential benefits of biochar and the objectives of the B4SS project. Initially, 21 farmers were selected to participate in the B4SS project but this time 26 farmers showed up for the training since their peers have told them about biochar. The farmers were very receptive and even engaged in a debate among themselves about producing biochar only from biomass residues available on their own land. Two farmers discussed the possibility of adding coffee pulp to the biomass during pyrolysis in the Kon Tiki kiln to decrease the pH of the biochar.

B4SS participant farmers attend the demonstration workshop

Brenton explains the benefits of biochar to farmers

After the presentation, Brenton produced biochar for the participants in a metal Kon Tiki kiln, and APRODES demonstrated the operation of a pilot biochar-making stove. The stove is out of scope in the B4SS project but APRODES considers that the potential for the successful adoption of these stoves in this community is very high since the people are already being sensitized about the benefits of using biochar for sustainable land management. Together with the participants, APRODES identified some characteristics in the design of the pilot stove that need to be improved. During the morning, APRODES staff cooked our lunch in a traditional pacha manca (earth oven), that farmers compared with the Kon Tiki soil pit. The food was delicious.

Brenton demonstrates biochar production in Kon Tiki kiln

APRODES demonstrates a biochar-making stove

Enjoying the food cooked in the pacha manca

The following day, we went to Palma Pampa to see the experiment established in the land of señor Rogelio. As the student informed us, the experiment failed due to planting of the maize crop during the dry season, drought, fungi outbreak and constant attacks by lorikeets. The student working on this site has agreed to consider the lessons learned and repeat the experiment in the next planting season. To our surprise, Rogelio asked us to visit another plot where he is growing coffee with the biochar formulation that we gave him last time. He wanted to show us that the leaves of some coffee plants have been affected by a fungus, whereas there are no spots on the leaves of the plants that were treated with biochar. Rogelio will continue observing his own experiment, and will now also look more closely at the student’s biochar trial. Not far from Rogelio’s house, we went to see Dennis’ plot where he recently planted maize with biochar. Both Rogelio and Dennis are very active farmers in the community.

The experiment will be repeated in this site

Dennis shows how the lorekeets eat the corn

Plant on the left with biochar and plant on the right without biochar

Finally, we went to Lurin to visit a chicken farm and the research station, which, after about one year, has grown into a full biochar demonstration site/factory. It was clear that Brenton Ladd has put a lot of effort into the development of this site. He has also created a partnership with a local poultry grower that provides him with the chicken manure required for designing his biochar formulations. The director told us that Brenton’s team goes to the farm every two days to remove the manure at no additional cost. The director explained that the fact that Brenton reuses the manure represents a value for them because they have no place where to dispose of this manure, which would otherwise attract flies, produce ammonia and pose health problems for the chickens and staff.

Brenton has also trained two local men, Eusebio and Johnathan, in biochar production and formulations. They are both very happy of working in the biochar site in Lurin and not having to spend hours in traffic to get to work in Lima and back home. This was also a good opportunity to meet the students who are doing their theses with the B4SS project and talk with Mariela Leveau about her presentation for the mid-term workshop in Vietnam. It was a pleasure to see that the B4SS project in Peru is progressing well. Brenton and APRODES have increased significantly the interest in biochar production and use since last year.