| 原文摘要 | In 2015, Family Forests of Oregon (FFO) a non-profit organization based in Salem, Oregon was awarded a Federal Financial Assistance Domestic Grant under the Wood Utilization Program. The FFO project is titled Commercial biochar products for forest restoration in the Pacific Northwest. The project objective is to incentivize the development of markets for low-value forest biomass on public and private forestland through innovating and commercializing biochar products. As we originally stated in the 2015 FFO grant proposal, the initial plan was to purchase a prilling machine to make biochar prills for use in agricultural applications. However, after the project got underway and we began interviewing farmers and other agricultural producers, our partners concluded that the best commercial opportunities are not with biochar prills. Rather, the best commercial opportunities are with bulk blended products that contain a biochar component with a range of ingredients depending on soil type, crop, and desired outcomes (i.e. compost, mychorrizhea, bokashi, and other materials). Thus, Rexius purchased biochar screening equipment, support equipment, and a soil blender for mixing a range of ingredients in bulk quantities. As a result, Rexius is now able to make 30 yard batches of material mixtures in very short periods of time (about an hour per run). Further, Rexius invested in customer surveys to assist in designing new biochar-based products. Substantial investments were made in product development and marketing materials; including brands, labels, a website, and collateral to support the new products. |