What is (JBRI)?

Sustainable agriculture and water productivity in Jordan need enhancement by integrating innovative methods, knowledge, and extension that allow stakeholders and farmers to evaluate the feasibility of new, user-friendly, and cost-effective technologies. The Jordan Biochar Research Initiative (JBRI) was initiated in Jordan in 2014 by Prof. Osama Mohawesh at Mutah University and Dr. Ammar Albalasmeh from Jordan University of Science and Technology, with "Support Research and Technological Development and Innovation Initiatives and Strategies in Jordan" funded from the European Union (EU-SRTDII). Several researchers with related expertise have joined the research efforts of JBRI, which is aimed primarily at improving our understanding of how biochar functions in modern agricultural systems. We see an intensive and broad-based scientific program providing essential background and knowledge in advance of advocating the large-scale use of biochar in soil.

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The objectives of JBRI are:

The main objective is to start a research program that aims to implement biochar use in agriculture to evaluate the benefits of biochar as a soil amendment to enhance nutrient and water use efficiency for different cropping systems in Jordan and demonstrate activities related to the use of biochar as a possible strategy to improving crop yield and reduce economic and health vulnerability to climate change. Our group specific objectives are:
- Build and optimize a low-cost pyrolysis machine to produce designer biochar using several available local feedstocks;
- Evaluate the benefits of biochar as a soil amendment (prospects costs, benefits, and risks) to enhance nutrient and water use efficiency for different cropping systems in Jordan, hence improving crop yield and reducing economic and health vulnerability to climate change;
- Empowering rural communities to use a cost-effective and straightforward farming practice brings about the direct benefits of improving crop yield and, subsequently, livelihoods;
- Enhancement of agricultural and environmental sustainability education by integrating new, user-friendly, and cost-effective technologies into the curriculum of the course;
- Developing training manuals, documentation, videos, and websites; conducting an outreach campaign and training workshop to demonstrate the outcomes in Jordan and the Middle East.

JBRI group:


Prof. Osama Mohawesh, , Mutah University, Founder
Dr. Ammar Albalasmeh, Jordan University of Science and Technology
Dr. Mohammed Al-Eideh, Mutah University
Prof. Husam Al-hamideh, Mutah University
Prof. Tayel Al-Hassan, Mutah University
Dr. Zakaria Al-Ajlouni, Jordan University of Science and Technology
Website Developer : Emad Qalaja, Mutah University

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