American-Israeli scientist recognized for excellence in biochar research

By SHARON UDASIN for JPost

Charcoal from biomass could reduce greenhouse gases, improve plant health.

For Dr. Ellen Graber, researching the carbon-rich black substance known as biological charcoal – or “biochar” – is her humble contribution to the global fight against climate change.

Graber, an American-Israeli transplanted from New York, received the "Scientist of the Year" award for 2013 on Monday morning from the Academic Committee of the Volcani Center for research achievements in this ever expanding field of biochar – charcoal created through the pyrolysis, or thermochemical decomposition, of biomass. The founder of the Israel Biochar Research Network, Graber is a researcher the Volcani Center's Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, based at the Agriculture Ministry's Agricultural Research Organization in Beit Dagan.

Graber's entrance into biochar research stemmed from a desire to explore the possibilities of biochar for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in the face of climate change, and improving soil fertility. To generate energy-rich products like solid biochar or gaseous biofuels, researchers are tasked with decomposing and carbonizing biomass through a pyrogenic process. Biochar can be for energy, but Graber's research primarily focuses on the use of the product as a soil amendment, with fertility-enhancing properties.

"It's a really new field," Graber told The Jerusalem Post on Monday, adding, however, that researchers around the world are now fervently working on the subject.

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