Biochar Technology

Climate change is an environmental disaster that threatens food production, availability, accessibility, and sustainability in developing countries. It increases the risks of extreme events that decrease soil fertility and crop yields that in turn threaten the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers. Adaptation to climate change and recovery from it is critical to ensure sustainable human health and food security. In Sub-Sahara Africa, agriculture plays an important role in providing food and income for the majority (over 60%) of the population.

Biochar  was identified as a soil amendment  that regains soil fertility to degraded land. Biochar contribution to crop production and climate change mitigation is well documented and trails in Tanzania shows positive results. Moreover, biochar production reduce rodents in the farms which are well documented in causing pre and post harvest loss in agriculture. This solution will improve food security, nutrition, emission reduction, and  create employment if scaled globally

1. The biochar technology aims to regain soil fertility to exhausted or degraded soils in Tanzania. Third of the earth’s soils acutely lost its fertility at the rate of 24 billion tonnes a year due to natural and anthropogenic activities. It is further revealed that, from 1998 to 2013, soils of the world decreased its productivity at the rate of 20% of the world’s cropland, 16% of forestland, 19% of grassland, and 27% of rangeland. In Africa, cropland showed a decrease in fertility at a depletion rate of 22 kg N ha-1, 2.5 kg P ha-1 and 15 kg K ha-1 over 30 years ago in 37 countries. Therefore, biochar amend  soil to increase  fertility.

2. Biochar technology aims to Increase crop production due to increased soil fertility

3. Biochar technology aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change. It was revealed that the impacts of climate change are increasing due to natural and anthropogenic factors including unsustainable agriculture. Biochar technology will reduce greenhouse emission through carbon sink and carbon sequestration.

4. Biochar aims to reduce rodents in the farms because their food and habitats will be pyrolyzed as feedstocks.  Therefore biochar makes the farm safe and clean

Biochar technology was identified as a soil amender that regains soil fertility to degraded land. The preference of biochar as a soil amendment is due to being highly porous, finely grained with lightweight, large surface area per unit mass , and a high charge ability  to increase soil pH. Studies have indicated that an application of biochar increased soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (N), exchangeable potassium (K), and available phosphorus (P) hence crop growth and yield. Biochar has a low density to provide additional drainage, aeration, significant adsorption, and promotes living biodiversity in the soil. 

The applying biochar in the farms supports crop growth, whereby crops absorb carbon dioxide from atmosphere for photosynthesis process.  Biochar material itself is a carbon concentrate of the original biomass and its stability in soil thus has implications for carbon sequestration.  It is estimated biochar retains 63% of the total carbon available in the feedstocks after pyrolysis. It remains in the soil for over 100 years. In addition, biochar production keeps away rodents which are famous in pre and after harvest losses

Smallholder farmers who are identified as poor with limited resources with low education are highly affected with climate change since their ability to adapt on the impact of climate change and the decreased of crop production is low. Therefore they engage in coping strategies which do not help them in a long run.  

Introduction of biochar technology will inform policymakers about the benefits of biochar as a soil amendment and its role in carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation, and environmental sustainability. The project will give insight to local authorities and farmers on biochar benefits as efficient, affordable, and can be locally produced for small farmers to maximize yield to ensure food security and international trade of cash crops such as tea and coffee while serving costs hence its adoption. The project  is in line with Agricultural Sector Development Plan (ASDP) and government economic reforms such as SAGCOT, Kilimo Kwanza, Big Results Now, Emission Reduction, Tanzania Development Vision 2025, and Sustainable Development Goal. 

The project will inform the carbon markets that biochar is reduces the green house emission. therefore, carbon credit for biochar is a real deal

1. Decrease in Soil Fertility

Biochar improves soil fertility, It makes recovery of the exhausted or degraded land. It changes land form unproductive to productive  

2. Decrease in crop production

Biochar increase crop yields in the fields. This solution will improve food security for the entire community

3. Increase of climate change impacts

Biochar reduce greenhouse gases that regulates climate to become suitable for agriculture and human health.

4. Biochar reduce rodents in the farms which are well documented for pre and post harvest loss.

 This solution is for human  beings and environment 

Several trials and research have been taking place in Southern Highlands of Tanzania in Mbeya and Songwe regions. The technology have been tested to more than 1000 smallholder farmers, and more than 7000 smallholder farmers were expected to be trained to use the technology depending on access of funds. The recent field visit was done in January 2021 to access women involvement in biochar technology with positive results. Therefore biochar in not gender bias. Therefore the technology fits the community

The technology uses bio wastes as feedstocks (raw materials) such as agricultural or forest wastes such as corn cobs, corn stalks, rice husks coffee husks, wooden chips etc which were regarded as wastes in the community and were left to decompose while emitting greenhouse gases i.e. ammonia. The machines (kilns) are also locally made from used oil drums(barrels) which may be abandoned as wastes in the streets or dumping areas. Moreover, local welders will be used to modify the barrels to fit into the kilns ready for pyrolysis (biochar production). This innovation creates new employment for welders and farmers, and the entire value chain. Therefore, this is a full of innovation from local materials considered  as wastes in the community.  

The solution goes to amend the soils (treat the soils, (degraded soils)) that has been affected by natural and anthropological factors. Among the factors is the prolonged application of industrial inputs such as fertilizers that exhaust and decrease soil fertility and contributes to health problems of the consumers. The development of biochar will increase organic products in the market. 

Moreover, the solution reduces  rodents in the farms to reduce the pre and post harvest lost, keeping  farms safe and clean.

We expect this technology to change the carbon market. Consumers' habit will change and buy organically produced products which are health as well as environmental friendly.

Trials indicated a decrease in fertilizer input cost by 50%, over 1000 farmers apply biochar, and more than 7000 small farmers trained to make and use biochar in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Other biochar initiatives in Tanzania were small and diverse in nature. They include Norges Vel in  Mbalali, Kilombero, and Idodi districts, Trans-SEC in Kilosa and Chamwino, and New Forests Company (NFC) in Kilolo District, Iringa. 

1. Resarch to measure my goals through number of farmer adopting the technology

2. Researching on improvement in food security and living standard in general

3. Research on life expectancy  and improvement on health conditions associated with industrial fertilizers

4. Research to measure climate parameters

10 Full time

6 Mentors

The 10 full time members, majority of them are graduate with Masters degrees in Natural Resources Assessment and Management with back ground in agronomy, forest, geography, conservation studies, agriculture etc from Univerity of Dar es Salaam.

Our mentors

We have  Professors  and doctors from University of Dar es Salaam Tanzania 

The team is composed both gender males and females. We work with smallholder farmers considered poor with low education. We work with widows, single parents  who are the marginalized groups in the society

• Receive access to funding in grants and investments, including through prizes  and fund rise
• Join a powerful network of impact-minded leaders across industries and sectors, with dedicated spaces to meet year-round and during Solve’s flagship events such as Solve at MIT;  
• Access mentorship, coaching, and strategic advice from experts, as well as the Solve and MIT networks; 
• Receive a monitoring and evaluation track to support you in building your impact measurement practice; 
• Gain exposure in the media and at conferences;

Having helped in the mentioned areas will out project will expand and reach many farmers especially in rural areas

IBI-International Biochar Initiatives

USBI-United States Biochar Initiatives

There organization help the team with advance technology and marketing as well as fund raising 

The solution increases food production that will help refugees not to starve in the their camps. Moreover, the solution reduces greenhouse gases emitted by refugees in their camps

General motors contributes extensively to carbon emission, the solution is going to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by GM products

In developing countries women and children are affected by the impacts of climate change. Women spends more time in the farms and produce low yields that affects food security. The use of biochar will improving crop production to provide nutrition for the family especially children who are always diagnosed with mul-nutrition 

The solution reduces greenhouse gases will prevent acidic rainfall that goes to affect life in waters. There has been cases for fish to be found dead after rainfall. Moreover, stopping acidic rain will improve live in waters and allow growth of water plants that are used as fish food

Biochar is a carbonated material. It contains high quantity of carbon which could be emitted to the atmosphere. Applying biochar is burying carbon to the soil, the buried carbon amends the fertility of the soil and improve plant growth. Then plants absorbs carbon-dioxide for photosynthesis. All these processes reduce carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate the impacts of climate change