Biochar for Grassroots Development Teo Humkey Haley Schlageter Seth Neumann Cameron Montalvo https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html

Haitians Population: ~10 million people Population Density: ~700 people/mi.² French forestry practices detrimental to environment beginning in 1697. First post-colonial sovereign nation after slave led revolt in 1804. Hit by a 7.0 magnitude and a 6.3 earthquake in 2010 that killed up to 300,000. Hurricanes, Tropical storms, Earthquakes are fairly common occurrences. Poorest Country in the western hemisphere. 41% of the population was unemployed in 2010. ¾ of population lives on $2 a day or less.

Haitians According to the C.I.A. 'Fact Book' : 30.8% of Haitian labor force is involved in agriculture but up to as much of 60% make some money of the land. Coffee, mangoes, cocoa, sugarcane, rice, sorghum, wood, and vetiver (bunchgrass used for oil production). 20% of the labor force is involved in industries. Textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly using imported parts. 53% make up the service industry. Primarily informal sector including vendors, shoe shiners, artists, fisherman, etc.

Potential Benefits Increase or decrease flow of H20 through soil as necessary. Remove pollutants (eg. Heavy Metals). Improve microbial life of soil. Sequester Carbon. Increase yields in crops. Scalability

Haitians and Us: Do our goals align? 0.31 x 4.8 million people = ~1.5 million people Plenty of people that this technology can reach. 80% of college graduates from Haiti live abroad. Haiti is in need of brain power. People not unfamiliar with charred materials. (Slash and Burn) Asking people to add Biochar in dirt should natural. Need solutions for fertility (no surplus present) and erosion. Biochar can give quick results. Leading cause of deforestation is fuel needs. Biochar Charcoal and Charcoal + Cook stoves = Efficiency

22°C = ~ 72°F 150 mm = ~6 inches

Biomass to Biochar

Biochar to Appropriate Technology

Potential Concerns and Issues Economic viability (price). Ability and Willingness to buy? Must have ties to production to access? How might this affect potential dissemination? Carbon sequestration Complicate process for smallholders? Environmental impact Sustainability of feedstock? Accelerate deforestation to fuel large-scale biochar production?

Things to remember Safety Concerns: Work Concerns: Cholera and other diseases Earthquakes, Hurricanes, etc. Work Concerns: Lacking Infrastructure Ranked 143 of 148 countries in NRI.