The ethical organisation, Eprida, isdeveloping a small scale unit that will simultaneously transform agriculturalwaste into hydrogen-rich biofuels, while also producing a fertilizer that fixescarbon dioxide emissions into the soil, where they are needed. The processoffers a practical solution for stabilising and eventually reversing globalgreenhouse gas emissions.

The great advantage of the Epridatechnology is that it can operate at small scale, converting waste biomass intofuel as well as a charcoal-based fertilizer which restores and enhances thesoil’s mineral, carbon and nitrogen content, effectively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Farmers have known about the restorativepowers of digging charcoal into the soil for thousands of years. In the Amazon Basin,charcoal was made by ploughing it back into the topsoil to produce TerraPreta’. It was known that this Black Earth’ produced an ideal environment forvegetation, plants and crops.

Up until now this process has not beenimplemented on an industrial level, but Iowa State University is currently workingalongside Eprida, developing the process and assessing the practicalities forlarge scale use.

Experiments show that in tropical orover-depleted soils, the ECOSS ñ nitrogen Enriched Carbon, Organic Slow-releaseSequestering ñ fertilizer improves both soil fertility and the capacity of thesoil to hold water, so plants grow much stronger than they do with conventionalnitrogen fertilizers and trials have produced some excellent results.

Given the challenges posed by both climatechange and peak oil, Eprida believes that producing renewable energy frombiomass at the same time as capturing carbon to restore the soil, could grow tobecome one of the largest industries on the planet.

Eprida is a social purpose organisationwhose mission is to benefit humanity and preserve biodiversity by developing,deploying and integrating solutions to global problems.

Contact: Eprida,

1151 East Whitehall Road,

Athens, GA 30602, USA.

Website: www​.eprida​.com