2025 IBI/CBEN Biochar Academy – Exploring Circular Bioeconomy and Biochar: A Journey Through Innovation, Soil, and Sustainability

Africa proudly hosted the first-ever Biochar Academy (BA)—a landmark week-long event jointly organized by the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) and the Circular Bio-nutrient Economy Network (CBEN). This pioneering academy in Africa focused on two core themes: biochar business development and the agronomic application of nutrient and carbon recovery systems. Framed within the broader context of the circular bioeconomy, the academy brought together cutting-edge science, agri-business innovation, and sustainability in practice. Experts, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers from across the continent and beyond convened with a shared purpose: to rethink waste, regenerate soils, and transform food systems through local, circular, and regenerative solutions.

The workshop opened with a compelling overview of the circular bioeconomy and the role of biochar within it. A key takeaway from the opening session was that waste does not exist in nature—this simple yet powerful idea underpinned the entire week. Presentations highlighted how circularity requires more than recycling; it demands the redesign of systems to mimic nature’s regenerative cycles. The Bioeconomy Strategy from Kenya was also discussed, showcasing a government-led effort to integrate bio-based innovation into policy.

Biochar emerged as a central theme—not just as a carbon sink, but as a solution with multifaceted benefits. We delved into the science behind pyrolysis and how different feedstocks and temperatures influence biochar properties. One striking insight was that high carbon permanence does not always align with agronomic benefits. This challenged many of us to think beyond “carbon math” and toward function-specific solutions.

The BA explored the types of biochar available in Africa, including those derived from crop residues, animal bones, and even human waste. These materials, when properly pyrolyzed, can serve as soil enhancers, pest suppressants, and microbial boosters. It was clear: no single biochar fits all. Matching feedstock, soil needs, and end-use is critical.

Real-World Applications and Community-Scale Innovations

On the second day of the Biochar Academy, the focus shifted from foundational theory to real-world applications and community-scale innovations, with a spotlight on business models rooted in African contexts. Participants explored a wide range of biochar-based products already making a difference in Kenya and Rwanda—from carbon-negative bricks and organic fertilizers to animal feed additives. These innovations demonstrated that while carbon finance may support growth, it cannot alone sustain the biochar industry. The emphasis was clear: success must be grounded in real, localized value creation. The discussion also highlighted how biochar is being applied in diverse sectors, such as construction, water filtration, land remediation, and electrical conductivity enhancement—pushing the boundaries of its utility beyond agriculture.

The workshop further delved into biochar application techniques in the field, strategies for farmer adoption, and the business logic behind small-to-mid-scale operations. Participants were guided on how to build compelling pitches for investors and buyers—emphasizing essentials like traction, scalability, risk mitigation, and co-benefits. There was a strong call for harmonized communication, recognizing that scientific jargon alienates rather than empowers smallholder farmers. With over 7,000 agrovet outlets in Kenya and a complex reality where soil analysis costs KSh 2,000–5,000 and takes up to three months, the need for accessible, farmer-friendly messaging and support structures was evident. It was reinforced that biochar is not a fertilizer but a soil amendment, requiring clear messaging, field demonstrations, training, incentives, and localized production hubs to scale adoption. Data must also be seen as living—shared both ways between researchers and farmers—to ensure fairness and context-specific impact.

 A field visit to Bio-Logical brought these lessons to life, offering a firsthand look at industrial biochar production set-ups, operational logistics, scale considerations, and stakeholder engagement.

Carbon Markets, Certification, and Business Strategy

The Academy further explored methodologies for quantifying and certifying carbon removal through biochar. It was eye-opening to see the stringency of verification processes, from monitoring production to applying quality assurance standards on the end product.

The evolving landscape of carbon regulation in Africa was examined noting that Kenya has recently gazetted new carbon market regulations, and while promising, there remains a significant gap in local Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs). This means African players must often rely on foreign certifiers, raising costs and delaying access to markets. A resounding call from participants was to develop homegrown MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) systems, such as the initiative by PlantVillage Kenya.

Business strategy was another core component that traversed value proposition design and the importance of solving local pain points. For instance, one enterprise found success not by selling carbon credits, but by solving poultry feed costs for farmers using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae. Such layered benefits—economic, environmental, and social—are key to viable circular bioeconomy ventures.

Soil Science Meets Enterprise

Day 4 of the Circular Bioeconomy Workshop spotlighted innovative applications of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae farming and biochar technologies in agriculture and waste management. Francis Kavutse from Rwanda's Maggot Farm Production shared insights from the RUNRES project, showcasing how BSF converts organic waste into high-protein livestock feed and nutrient-rich frass, leading to a 28% yield increase in maize and a 35% reduction in poultry feed costs. Complementing this, Jean Bosco Odawa of Intindambwe Feeds highlighted business models leveraging BSF for vertical integration and job creation, with BSF eggs fetching five times the price of larvae.

The discussion also explored BSF’s carbon credit potential through methane reduction, pyrolysis, and soil carbon sequestration. Prof. Johan Six from ETH Zurich delved into the impact of alternative fertilizers like nutrient urine (NUF), DEWATS, and BSF frass on crop health, while Prof. Johannes Lehmann of Cornell emphasized the importance of matching biochar types to specific soil and nutrient challenges, highlighting the nitrogen bioavailability issue and solutions through quenching. Milkyas Ahmed presented Ethiopia's multi-year field trials, demonstrating successful scaling of low-cost biochar systems and the viability of bone char as a phosphorus alternative. The day concluded with a practical session on pitching circular bioeconomy innovations to investors, featuring case studies from ICIPE, SafiOrganics, and Pure Plant Organics. Discussions focused on product-market fit, profitability from input savings, and the importance of farmer education, quality control, and integrated systems thinking to drive adoption and scale.

Policy, Standards, and Scaling Up

The final day turned toward enabling environments—regulation, certification, and scaling pathways. Policymakers from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), CAMAK, and CSTI shared sobering but constructive insights: as of now, only one company in Kenya is certified to sell biochar products, and standards are still under development. Encouragingly, a new approach based on product use rather than composition is being proposed, allowing for flexibility and innovation.

Discussions of the risks of mislabeling biochar as “waste” and how language shapes perception were discussed and the message was clear: biochar is a product of value. The policy space is opening up, but science must lead the way. To regulate effectively, we need more data, more trials, and more collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, and regulators.

This workshop reaffirmed a powerful truth: Africa’s food, waste, and energy challenges are deeply interconnected—and so are the solutions. By aligning local science, enterprise, and policy, soils can be regenerated, emissions reduced, and jobs created to close nutrient loops.

The road ahead will require sustained collaboration, investment in research and standards, and patient entrepreneurship. But the potential is massive. In biochar, in BSF, in compost, and in the collective wisdom of our communities, there is literally everything needed to restore our soils and renew our economies—one circular loop at a time.

Biochar Academy in the news

https://youtu.be/eZvb9lOVOXo?si=xtgkNh587BHr1X6T

By Erick O Abala

Head of Communication-CBEN