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Household Level Pyrolytic Stove: Linking Energy to Agriculture and Food Security

By SHALIN Finland

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OVERVIEW

Charcoal enriched soils like Terra Preta soils are among the world’s most fertile soils and prove that soil organic carbon enrichment beyond the maximum capacity is possible. Stoves can be designed to produce energy and charcoal at the same time.

Biomass is a renewable and versatile source of energy. Innovations on biomass use are evolving leading to improved stoves, gasification, kilns for charcoal and bricket production, pelleting, biofuels and increasingly biogas production. The expanding user base is placing pressure on this finite resource.

The increased demand for biomass as a source of energy and the impacts of climate change are having a devastating impact on peoples livelihoods through the destruction of biodiversity. In addition, the clearing of land and the burning of biomass is not only adding to the release of harmful green house gases such as nitrous oxide, but also having a direct impact on the health and socio-economic status of families and especially women and children. It is estimated that over 1.6 million people die annually from the direct emissions at a global scale (more than the casualties from malaria).