Research for Minnesota's forests
The risk of wildfires is high because of dense underbrush like balsam fir.
The Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) is working with the U.S. Forest Service to remove that wildfire fuel and turn it into a carbon-sequestering, soil-enhancing biochar material that can be used to cap landfills.
“Balsam fir are a natural and ecologically valuable tree in our forests, but they make up a dense understory that can move a fire quickly up into the canopy where it spreads faster. The best way to mitigate wildfires that threaten people and property is by selectively removing that species.”
- Patrick Johnson, Fire Management Officer, Superior National Forest
With no market for the resulting wood, the Forest Service has no other option but to pile it up and let it rot or burn the wood. Both options release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. NRRI is working to change that.
With funding from the U.S. Forest Service, NRRI researchers are developing the hidden value in the balsam fir wood leftover after it is cut down to reduce the risk of wildfire. One of those hidden values is that balsam fir can be converted into a biocarbon called biochar.
Biochar is charred biomass, basically like a charcoal. NRRI is making biochars in a variety ways to give it properties for specific applications. The kiln temperature, time in the kiln, and biomass source all impact the biochar’s performance properties.
In partnership with energy provider Minnesota Power, NRRI is applying biochar to a capped landfill at the Boswell Energy Center in Cohassett, Minnesota. The goal is to improve soil health so that native grasses can revegetate this space for new uses.
Research for amplified care
Augmenting the care humans provide allows people with dementia to stay independent longer. This takes research for smarter robotics. Learn more about how Pepper the robot is helping senior citizens maintain quality of living and delay assisted living care.
