Show Notes
Many people new to biochar are surprised to hear that it can not only be used in agriculture but can also be used in Infrastructure. In fact, Biochar can be used in a variety of industrial applications, including roads, concrete, and asphalt to name a few. On today's show, we welcome Foundational Member of ANZBIG, Founder and Director of NewWorld Pavement Solutions and CarbonCor Products Australia, Andre Van Zyl.
Andre is a Chemical Engineer who has specialized knowledge and skills in road surfacing technology, especially in the development, manufacture, and installation of environmentally friendly emulsified cold road-premix material, for both new urban and remote infrastructure development areas. He has been instrumental in the further development and re-design of a new and revolutionary Carboncor product range of road and construction materials which are now available and being rolled out internationally. Andre now resides in Perth, Western Australia.
Our first podcast series, 'Biochar in the Drawdown Decade,' is part of the lead-up to our annual conference this October 2021. Visit our website www.anzbig.org to find out more about our conference or to become a member.
More from The Biochar Podcast
How can biochar transform sports turf management into a profitable, sustainable practice? In this episode, we sit down with James Gaspard, CEO of Biochar Now (USA), to unpack a groundbreaking California golf course case study. After investing ~$300,000 AUD in biochar, the course achieved nearly $3 million in water savings over six years — delivering a return on investment in just six months. We cover: How biochar improves turf resilience, aesthetics, and soil health
In the first episode of ANZBIG’s on-the-ground series, we dive into two real-world horticulture trials featured in our Farmer’s Guide. Mayo Ryan (CTOS Group) walks us through a vineyard biochar trial—covering the site, soils, climate, biochar type and rates, and how it was applied alongside practices like compost and irrigation management. Then Russell Burnett (Rainbow Bee Eater) shares the Ballarat potato trial—trial design, soil/treatment layout, biochar incorporation, and adjustments to inputs. Together we explore early signals in soil moisture, nutrient cycling, structure, vine health and grape quality, plus what’s emerging on potato yields, profitability, and input efficiency. You’ll also hear the challenges, what they’d do differently, and practical advice for growers considering biochar. 👉 Download the Farmer’s Guide (digital or paperback): https://www.anzbig.org/farmers-guide.html 🎧 Next up: Sports Turf & Biochar—our Californian golf course case with James Gaspard (Biochar Now), where a A$300k biochar purchase at ~A$3,000/t delivered nearly A$3M in water savings over six years—~6-month payback.
In this episode, ANZBIG Cluster Manager Sam Zagami sits down with a Louisa Kiely, CEO of Carbon Management Services, a leading voice in carbon farming to explore:What sparked her journey into carbon farming and low-carbon agriculture? Why does she say that “soil carbon is the largest carbon sink over which we have control”—and what does that mean for Australia's climate goals and rural economies?We also discuss what governments still need to do to unlock the full carbon farming opportunity, and how farmers and investors alike can position themselves to benefit. Finally, we tackle the tough questions around credibility and integrity: how can carbon farming avoid the same pitfalls that have plagued carbon offsetting?This is a grounded, insightful conversation for anyone interested in climate resilience, future farming, and turning soil into a climate solution.Connect with Louisa via: Carbon Management Services and be sure to check out and attend the upcoming National Carbon Farming Conference.
This compelling podcast exploring the real-world policy challenges and breakthroughs shaping the future of biochar. Led by experts in circular economy, carbon accounting, and regulatory strategy, this session unpacks the barriers holding back progress—and the practical solutions pushing projects forward.
This interactive podcast-style webinar brings together industry leaders, carbon market experts, and biochar practitioners to discuss how biochar supports the circular economy and carbon removal markets. The session provided insights into monetising biochar, its role in carbon credit generation, and how to scale industry adoption.