Biochar for smallholder farmers in East Africa: arguing for transdisciplinary research

Abstract

Pressing challenges of the 21st century need adequate response of science! This claim is not just a question of working on urgent and relevant questions. This claim calls for new approaches in science. According to the proverb ‘The world has problems, universities have faculties’ – we have to overcome traditional boundaries of disciplines. Moreover we have to transgress the confinement to the ivory tower and invite the persons affected and potential future multipliers into the process of research. This need for transdisciplinary research and both its opportunities and challenges will be highlighted by introducing a holistic biochar approach for smallholder farmers in East Africa. Two decades after the re-discovery and scientific description of the extremely fertile and long-term carbon storing Amazonian Dark Earths, there seems to be a ‘black gold rush’. Charcoal used as a soil amendment (biochar) might reproduce such soils. Small scale biochar production and its application to the soil offer opportunities for improvement of both human health and soil properties and for food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation especially in East Africa. But still these sound pre-conditions and even excellence in science do not guarantee success in terms of a benefit for farmers. A lot of work needs to be done to transform those multiple chances into a true solution. It will require a transdisciplinary and interactive form of development cooperation and research – a true cooperation between local farmers, organizations and willing researchers.