Um escudo invisível: como o "lixo" pode frear as mudanças climáticas | Juliana Schultz | TEDxErechim

Extreme weather events are increasing in Brazil, prompting a search for solutions. The speaker proposes a shift in perspective, viewing "trash," particularly agricultural and agro-industrial biomass like rice husks and sugarcane bagasse, not as waste but as a valuable resource. This transformation is achieved through pyrolysis, a thermochemical process that heats biomass in an oxygen-limited atmosphere. This process yields three products: biocarbon (biochar), bio-oil, and biogas. Bio-oil and biogas can be used for energy, and biogas even makes the process self-sustaining, with surplus for electricity generation. The key innovation lies in biochar. This "intelligent coal" stably stores atmospheric carbon for extended periods. By converting biomass into biochar and applying it to soil, carbon captured through photosynthesis is prevented from returning to the atmosphere. Beyond carbon storage, biochar acts as a soil conditioner, enhancing water and nutrient retention, improving soil microbial life, reducing erosion, and correcting pH. This "invisible shield" makes agriculture more resilient in a changing climate. Bio-oil and biogas further contribute by replacing fossil fuels. The speaker advocates for recognizing waste as a potential regenerative asset, a raw material for the future, and a crucial tool in mitigating climate change.