The carbon rich product known as ‘bio-char’ is produced by burning organic matter (e.g. farming or forestry by-product biomass) at a high temperature in an oxygen-controlled environment in a process that also produces pyrolysis (gasification). Indeed, it is similar to the process of making charcoal, which ist hen tilled into the soil. This technique has been used for generations by indigenous peoples in many regions of the world to enhance the agricultural productivity of soil. However, there is no credible research on the details of this practice (e.g. how long it may have taken to produce demonstrable enhanced soil properties or whether composted biomass was also added to achieve the desired effect….