Bringing Biochar to Market: An Excerpt from the First Major Biochar Conference Held in the United States.

North American Biochar Conference Advances Understanding of the Industry

BOULDER, Colo. -- Mantria Industries, LLC, proudly releases an excerpt from the 2009 North American Biochar Conference - the first major Biochar conference held in the United States. The conference, which ends today at the University of Colorado (Boulder), was designed to advance understanding of the policy, business, scientific, and technical opportunities and issues implicated by the large-scale usage of Biochar as both a sequestration agent and soil amendment. As a recognized leader in the business of Biochar, Mantria Industries, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Troy Wragg was invited to speak and sit on a panel on the subject of "Bringing Biochar to Market."

A year ago, it was said that Biochar is not a profitable business. What has changed in the last year and what has your company done?

"What we have done to make the business of Biochar profitable for us is 3-fold. The creation of manufacturing processes that allows the EcoRefinery[TM] systems to be produced in a consistent way. We have begun production of systems in China and an automated process allows the optimization of Biochar, producing about 8,000 lbs per hour. Also, the creation of our "BlackBox" technology allows for the use of algorithms to optimize and create reproducible BioProducts[TM] for any number of recipes and variety of feedstock. Lastly, we have done a great deal of testing and analyses to create carbon for a number of industries. We are now producing Biochar for soil fertility and carbon sequestration, and actively creating products for the metallurgical, filtration and mercury removal from coal markets. Over the long-term, we will continue to build plants that utilize the EternaGreen[TM] Carbonization process, which is the most efficient technology available and allows for the highest return on investment."

What do carbon credits mean for your business?

"Our business model is not dependent on carbon credits. We are working on a number of experts on a clean development mechanism (CDM)."

Is your business growing? Are you profitable?

"Our EcoRefinery[TM] systems will be profitable by the end of this year. By the end of 2011, all of our systems will be cash flow positive on an annual basis. We are focusing on the BioCarbon and BioCoal markets which will allow us to continue to work in the agricultural and carbon sequestration markets."

How have you handled the communities in the areas where EcoRefinery[TM] systems are being built?

"We have worked to rally the mayor, city council and the general community in these areas. We focus first on local outreach. Working with the local people and getting them educated on what's to come."

Keynote speakers of the conference included the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Dr. Susan Solomon, Senior Scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Additional speakers include Dr. J. Lehmann, Cornell University; Dr. S. Joseph, University of New South Wales; Dr. S. Brick, International Biochar Initiative; D. Reed, International Biochar Initiative; Dr. J Amonette, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Dr. F Agblevor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Dr. J. Novak, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service; Dr. C. Steiner, University of Georgia; Dr. D. Page-Dumroese, USDA Forest Service; Dr. J. Major, International Biochar Initiative; Dr. D Laird, USDA ARS; and P. Weisberg, The Climate Trust.

The Center for Energy and Environmental Security (CEES) at the University of Colorado Law School was the lead sponsor and organizer of the conference. The conference was co-sponsored by the International Biochar Initiative (IBI). EternaGreen[TM] a super-premium Biochar product created by Mantria Industries was a founding sponsor.

EternaGreen [TM] Biochar is an organic soil amendment that enhances the ability of soil to retain nutrients and water, increases the available nutrients for plant growth, and is a fertilizer enhancer, thereby maximizing the return on a farmer's fertilizer investment. Also, EternaGreen[TM] Biochar lowers the negative impact that crops have on the environment by reducing nitrous oxide emissions, phosphorus runoff and nitrogen leaching, thus protecting our surface and ground water. EternaGreen[TM] Biochar is a super-premium product, produced by Mantria Industries through its highly innovative system of advanced automated pressurized partially pyrolytic gasification technology. For more information visit www.EternaGreen.com.

Mantria Industries is a division of the Mantria Corporation - a diversified, $104 million company focusing on green community development, socially responsible investing, distressed real estate fund management, mortgage banking, renewable energy, and philanthropy. At the foundation is Mantria Green - a set of pioneering principles for developing premium land and real estate with carbon emission offsetting and environmentally conscious design. For more information, please visit www.mantria.com and www.EternaGreen.com.