How Biochar and Carbon Removal Empowers Smallholder Farmer Communities

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability, companies are seeking innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and mitigate the impact of climate change. One such strategy that has been gaining popularity in recent years is carbon removal, which involves removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in natural or artificial reservoirs. One promising carbon removal technique is derived through the production of biochar, a process that not only sequesters carbon but also improves soil health and supports smallholder farmers in developing countries.

What is biochar?

Biochar is the lightweight black residue, made of carbon and ashes, remaining after the pyrolysis of biomass. Pyrolysis is the process whereby biomass is heated up to high temperatures (>550C) in a low oxygen environment. The process forms two pools of carbon, the majority type (75%) and more interesting one for carbon sequestration is the?persistent aromatic carbon (PAC) pool, which consists of larger clusters of aromatic carbon rings that makes make this carbon stable in the soil for > 1,000 years.

The beauty of biochar is that practically any biomass can be used: weeds that cause farmers stress on the farm, waste biomass that is normally just burned and contributes to global warming and smog,?clippings from trees that farmers plant in agroforestry settings and even manure. Read more about harnessing the carbon sequestration properties of biochar in our last blog: Harnessing the Secrets of Biochar?

What is a smallholder farmer?

Smallholder farmers are typically rural, family orientated farmers, working on plots of land that are no more than 2 hectares. According to recent research, farms smaller than 5 acres produce roughly 35% of the world’s food, and smallholders provide up to 80% of the food supply in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The vast majority of smallholder farmers reside in developing countries and are often characterised by low incomes, limited access to resources and technologies, and vulnerability to climate change and market fluctuations.

Despite their challenges, smallholder farmers play a critical role in achieving environmental sustainability. By implementing sustainable farming practices, such as conservation agriculture and agroforestry, small holder farmers can contribute to a range of environmental benefits, such as soil conservation, water management, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration.?

Furthermore, small holder farmers are often deeply connected to their local ecosystems and have a strong understanding of local environmental conditions and resources, making them valuable partners in our conservation efforts.

Biochar and smallholder farmers

In the context of biochar and carbon removal, small holder farmers are particularly important as they are often located in areas where carbon sequestration potential is highest. By integrating biochar into their farming practices, small holder farmers can contribute to carbon removal while also improving soil health and crop productivity.?

Biochar production also provides an additional source of income for smallholder farmers, income that is translated directly into economic growth. This additional income also helps to reduce the need for unsustainable practices such as slash-and-burn agriculture or deforestation. And, a biochar program that requires labor for tasks such as collecting and verifying the agricultural data helps to increase employment opportunities in developing countries. By creating new jobs in rural areas, biochar production can help to reduce urban migration, reduce inequalities and support the development of local economies.?

At BiocharLife, we are focused on enabling and empowering farming communities in developing countries by promoting the use of biochar as a tool for carbon removal and soil improvement. Our community lead approach is centered on the idea that sustainable development is only possible when all impact pillars are in effect - social, environmental, and economic having an equal footing. Our goal is to create a sustainable biochar value chain that benefits both the environment and local communities.

Looking to the future

Despite the potential of biochar as a tool for sustainable development, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed. One of the main barriers to widespread adoption of biochar is the lack of awareness and understanding of the technology among farmers, investors and policymakers. Many farmers are still unaware of the benefits of biochar and how to use it effectively in their fields. Something we are focused on solving at BiocharLife as we provide training and education programs to farmers and local communities - to date we have trained more than 10,000 with a view of scaling to thousands more in the coming years.

In the coming years, biochar is set to play a critical role in climate change mitigation, with the potential to remove significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere and improve soil health worldwide. To fully realise the potential of biochar, it is essential to lead with a social impact mindset - to engage smallholder farmers in developing countries and create sustainable biochar value chains that benefit both the environment and those local communities.

Would you like to understand how a carbon removal program can help your organisation achieve their social and environmental objectives??Get in touch?for more information.

Written by The Carbon Consortium

Biochar Life

An impact venture of Warm Heart Worldwide, Biochar Life is a social enterprise working with smallholder farmers to help cool the planet, clean the environment, improve public health and reduce rural poverty.

PlantVillage

Is a public good platform at Penn State University, which helps farmers through technology and local youth providing knowledge on coping with climate change stressors, pests and how to access markets to make more money.

Carbon4Good

Is a social enterprise company that has emerged out of PlantVillage/Penn State with the goal of helping farmers make biochar and receive payments via the carbon markets.