Biochar from cookstoves reduces greenhouse gas emissions from smallholder farms in Africa

Cecilia Sundberg (), Erik Karltun, James K. Gitau, Thomas Kätterer, Geoffrey M. Kimutai, Yahia Mahmoud, Mary Njenga, Gert Nyberg, Kristina Roing de Nowina, Dries Roobroeck and Petra Sieber
Additional contact information
Cecilia Sundberg: KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Erik Karltun: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
James K. Gitau: University of Nairobi
Thomas Kätterer: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Geoffrey M. Kimutai: IITA
Yahia Mahmoud: Lund University
Mary Njenga: University of Nairobi
Gert Nyberg: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Kristina Roing de Nowina: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Dries Roobroeck: IITA
Petra Sieber: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2020, vol. 25, issue 6, No 2, 953-967

Abstract: Abstract Biochar produced in cookstoves has the potential to contribute to negative carbon emissions through sequestration of biomass carbon while also providing other benefits for sustainable development, including provision of clean renewable energy and increased yields in tropical agriculture. The aim of the reported research was to estimate effects on food production, household energy access and life cycle climate impact from introduction of biochar-producing cookstoves on smallholder farms in Kenya. Participatory research on biochar production and use was undertaken with 150 Kenyan smallholder farming households. Gasifier cookstove functionality, fuel efficiency and emissions were measured, as well as biochar effects on agricultural yields after application to soil. Cookstoves provided benefits through reduced smoke, fuel wood savings and char production, but challenges were found related to labour for fuel preparation, lighting and refilling. On-farm trials with varying rates of biochar inputs, in combination with and without mineral fertilizers, have led to a sustained increase of maize yields following one-time application. The climate impact in a life cycle perspective was considerably lower for the system with cookstove production of biochar and use of biochar in agriculture than for current cooking practices. Climate benefits from biochar production and use are thus possible on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa, through reduced use of biomass in cooking, reduced emissions of products of incomplete combustion and sequestration of stable biochar carbon in soils. Biochar-producing cookstoves can be implemented as a climate change mitigation method in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Successful implementation will require changes in cooking systems including fuel supply, as well as farming systems, which, in turn, requires an understanding of local socio-cultural conditions, including power relations and gender aspects.

Keywords: Biochar-producing gasifier stove; Bioenergy; Greenhouse gas; Woodfuel; Life cycle assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11027-020-09920-7 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:25:y:2020:i:6:d:10.1007_s11027-020-09920-7

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/11027

DOI: 10.1007/s11027-020-09920-7

Access Statistics for this article

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change is currently edited by Robert Dixon

More articles in Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().