CDR Project Developer - Biochar Life

'Unbound Showcase' is a globe-spanning series of interviews with pioneers of carbon dioxide removal (CDR). We're questioning innovators, business leaders, policymakers, academics, buyers, and investors taking on the challenge of our lifetime—gigaton-scale carbon removal from the earth's atmosphere.

Today's interview is with Matt Rickard , COO, and Mercy Ogembo , Kenya Country Manager of Biochar Life .

"What is Biochar Life, and what inspired its creation?"

Matt Rickard : Biochar Life is a public benefit corporation that helps marginalised smallholder farmers access global carbon offset markets through the production of biochar. Its creation was inspired by the work of Dr. Shafer and Evelind Schecter, founders of Warm Heart Worldwide. They developed a community-based approach to making biochar from crop waste in northern Thailand as a solution to field burning, which has severe environmental and health impacts.

Seeing the success of this initiative, they founded Biochar Life to scale the impact and support farmers in Asia and Africa by providing a means to earn income through carbon removal credits, improve soil health, and reduce smoke pollution. The goal is to address multiple issues, such as poverty, food security, and environmental degradation while contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts.

"Can you elaborate on how Biochar Life's programs specifically address smallholder farmers' challenges in developing countries?"

Matt Rickard : Biochar Life's programs specifically address smallholder farmers' challenges in developing countries by tackling several critical issues. Firstly, these farmers often struggle with poor soil fertility and low crop yields, leading to food insecurity and poverty. Our programs introduce proper farming techniques and biochar, a soil amendment from crop waste. Biochar improves soil structure, retains moisture, and increases nutrient availability, leading to significant crop yield improvements. This directly contributes to food security and provides a more stable income for farming families.

In addition to agricultural benefits, our programs also address health and environmental challenges. Traditionally, farmers burn crop residues, which releases harmful pollutants and contributes to air pollution and respiratory problems. We educate farmers on the dangers of open burning and promote the use of biochar production methods that reduce smoke emissions. By adopting these practices, farmers not only improve their own health and that of their communities but also contribute to environmental conservation by reducing carbon emissions and enhancing soil carbon sequestration.

Overall, Biochar Life empowers farmers by providing them with the knowledge and tools needed for sustainable agriculture, improving their livelihoods, health, and the environment. These efforts contribute to the broader goals of mitigating climate change and fostering sustainable development in their communities and countries.

"What are the key factors contributing to the success of Biochar Life's partnerships with smallholder farmers?"

Mercy Ogembo : The success of Biochar Life's partnerships with smallholder farmers can be attributed to the "PIP" approach, which stands for People, Integrity, and Process. Here's how each element contributes:

• People: At the heart of our success are the smallholder farmers themselves. We prioritise building solid and supportive relationships with them. We provide comprehensive training and ongoing support, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to produce and use biochar effectively. By focusing on their needs and empowering them, we help farmers improve their agricultural practices, leading to better yields and income stability.
• Integrity: Transparency and honesty are foundational to our partnerships. We establish clear agreements with farmers, outlining expectations and benefits. Our commitment to integrity ensures that all parties understand their roles and responsibilities. We also implement electronic payment systems, which enhance transparency and trust by providing precise and accurate financial transactions.
• Process: Our success is also driven by a well-defined and transparent process. This includes thorough training programs, regular follow-ups, and the use of digital tools for monitoring, reporting, and verification. Our digital systems enable data gathering of farmer activities and biochar production, ensuring accountability and accuracy. This structured process helps maintain high standards and builds confidence among the farmers and our partners.

The PIP approach—People, Integrity, and Process—acts as a metaphorical seed, ensuring that our partnerships grow strong and yield positive outcomes for both the farmers and the environment. By nurturing these relationships with care and transparency, Biochar Life will continue to successfully empower smallholder farmers and foster sustainable development.

"Beyond income generation, what other social benefits do Biochar Life's programs bring to smallholder farmers and their communities?"

Mercy Ogembo : In addition to the primary benefits of increased crop yields and income generation, Biochar Life's programs offer several other significant social benefits to smallholder farmers and their communities:

• Health Benefits: Our programs help reduce air pollution, which can cause respiratory and other health issues, by promoting the use of biochar instead of the traditional open burning of crop residues. This contributes to a cleaner and healthier environment for the farmers and their communities.
• Enhanced Livestock and Poultry Production: Biochar is also used in animal husbandry, particularly with livestock and poultry. Incorporating biochar into animal feed or bedding can improve digestion and health, leading to increased milk production in cows and higher egg production in chickens. This not only enhances food security but also provides additional sources of income.
• Education and Training: We provide comprehensive education on smart farming techniques and the use of technology. This training equips farmers with valuable skills, enabling them to adopt more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices. Knowledge in soil management, crop rotation, and pest control helps farmers optimise their resources and improve productivity.

• Technological Empowerment: Biochar Life is committed to integrating technology into farming practices. We are training farmers to use smartphones and digital tools to report their activities, monitor progress, and manage their farms more effectively. This technological empowerment helps farmers adapt to modern agricultural practices and improves their overall efficiency.
• Community Development and Empowerment: The knowledge and skills gained from our programs extend beyond individual farmers to the broader community. As farmers become more self-sufficient and successful, they contribute to the overall development and resilience of their communities. This collective growth fosters a sense of empowerment and collaboration among community members.
• Enhanced Family and Community Welfare: Extra income earned from the program enables farmers to significantly improve their family's quality of life, including funding their children's education and accessing better healthcare. This financial stability also contributes to broader community development, fostering a more robust, more resilient local economy and enhancing collective well-being.

Overall, Biochar Life's programs go beyond mere income generation by enhancing health, improving food security, providing education, and promoting technological advancement. These initiatives help smallholder farmers and their communities build a sustainable future, both economically and socially.

"What is your vision for the future of Biochar Life and its role in alleviating rural poverty and mitigating climate change?"

Matt Rickard Our vision for Biochar Life is to become the leading social venture supporting marginalised communities, particularly smallholder farmers. We aim to empower as many farmers as possible, helping them improve their livelihoods and contribute to a healthier planet. We strive to be recognised as the number one organisation that provides sustainable solutions to address rural poverty and climate change.

We aspire to create the strongest network of smallholder farmers, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to succeed. This includes promoting sustainable farming practices, enhancing crop yields, and offering technological training. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity in all our activities, including digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (DMRV). By doing so, we ensure transparency and build trust with our farmers and partners.

Ultimately, we want Biochar Life to be synonymous with empowerment. We envision a future where our work not only transforms the lives of individual farmers but also contributes significantly to global efforts in mitigating climate change and promoting sustainable development.

"What's the biggest challenge facing CDR's nature-based/ science-based solutions, and what is required to scale and solve them in 2024?"

Matt Rickard : One of the biggest challenges in the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector, particularly for nature-based and science-based solutions, is balancing the demand for carbon credits with the supply from projects like ours. While we have successfully trained many smallholder farmers and have abundant biomass resources, the market demand for carbon credits is still catching up. This imbalance limits our ability to scale up operations and involve more farmers in the program.

To address this challenge, it's crucial to continuously innovate and introduce new technologies that can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our solutions. The market increasingly demands lower prices for carbon credits, which requires us to optimise our processes and reduce costs. By putting technology in the hands of the farmers, we can streamline data collection and verification processes, making our operations more efficient and transparent.

Additionally, we are piloting the use of higher-tech pyrolysis equipment at the request of certain buyers. This equipment can enhance the precision and quality of biochar production while still delivering community benefits such as job creation and skill development. This approach not only meets the specific requirements of buyers but also helps in making our solutions more attractive and accessible to a broader market.

In 2024, scaling and solving these challenges will require a multi-faceted approach: aligning demand with supply through market education and outreach, investing in technological advancements, and continuously improving our operational efficiency. By doing so, we aim to strengthen our position in the market and expand the positive impact of our work on rural communities and the environment.

Unbound Summits' mission focuses on unrivalled connections, unmatched insights and unbound CDR opportunities. You can learn more about how Biochar Life is helping Small hold Farmers create biochar from crop waste at https://www.biochar.life/ .