Research concerning biochar and indeed the word biochar are quite new. Until recently, research has been undertaken is relative isolation. However, at EGU this year, consecutive sessions concerning biochar have set this material in the context of other organic amendments (soil quality SSS 6.10) and research of black carbon more generally (carbon stability, SSS 6.15). In this session we seek consensus around an agenda for an effective, strategic and context-driven research effort that is proportionate to the scale of the opportunity. This will be a dynamic, interactive and facilitated session which will be recorded as a published output, alongside the proceedings of SSS 6.10 and/or 6.15.