The Sonoma Biochar Initiative (SBI), founded in 2009, is a California-based organization dedicated to promoting biochar education, production and use throughout Sonoma County. SBI operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the Sonoma Ecology Center (SEC) [www.sonomaecologycenter.org]. We interact with our strategic partners to educate local agricultural operators (including vineyard managers), local government officials, and other stakeholders on the advantages of using biochar to enhance agricultural productivity while reducing GHG emissions. SBI sees accelerated use of biochar as the key to soil restoration and recovery as well as a “fast mitigation technology” being cited increasingly in international climate talks. SBI is seeking ways to establish local demonstration projects for biochar production and application, experimenting with available agricultural and urban yard waste biomass feedstocks.

Sonoma Biochar Initiative (SBI)

Ray Gallian - ray@sonomabiocharinitiative.org
SBI Chairman and Chief Biochar Advocate

Raymond Baltar - raymond@sonomabiocharinitiative.org
SBI Director and Treasurer

David Morell - david@sonomabiocharinitiative.org
SBI Secretary

Richard Dale - richard@sonomabiocharinitiative.org
Director Sonoma Ecology Center & SBI Board Member

Peter Hirst - peter@newenglandbiochar.org
SBI Advisor