A Season of Growth, Collaboration, and Innovation

Members during the monthly call

This month's CBEN  call reflected a vibrant and growing community, united by a shared mission to advance sustainable agriculture and circular solutions across Africa and beyond. Key highlights from the meeting covered updates on member projects, regional initiatives, funding prospects, and ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration within the network.

Artisan Season Certification in Ethiopia Nears Completion

One of the notable updates came from the Artisan Season certification project in Ethiopia, which is on track to complete its auditing process by September through Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH (DBFZ) . This development signals a major step forward in validating sustainable practices and building capacity among smallholder farming communities.

Discussions also revealed promising potential support from a Foundation for a continent-wide CBEN convening. This gathering is envisioned to bring together stakeholders from across Africa to unify strategies, share learnings, and bolster momentum in the circular bioeconomy space. Such support would be instrumental in scaling impact as envisioned By CBEN

New CBEN member Shashikant Jaiswal shared insights into his biochar initiative, which leverages biomass from invasive plant species found in both India and Africa. His project has established a production unit with a daily capacity of six tons and is now seeking collaboration and ideas for monetizing the biochar value chain. This cross-continental innovation reflects CBEN’s expanding global footprint and commitment to problem-solving through resource optimization.

DuToit Nyamande, Founder Member and Director of CarbonConnect (Zimbabwe), reported on the second successful audit of their Artisan Pro operation and the creation of a carbon sink network involving over 200 registered farmers. Their efforts have shown promising results, particularly the positive influence of biochar on cotton yields. DuToit also highlighted the sale of over 5 tons of biochar—a historic first for the organization—and shared insights into Zimbabwe's evolving regulatory environment for carbon credit projects, underscoring the importance of continued advocacy.

Founding member Olivier Majambere introduced BioAmak’s exciting new initiative: a biochar fertilizer tailored for smallholder farmers. Currently in the prototyping phase, the project involves testing various blends of biochar with manures and compost. A product launch is expected within the new fiscal year. The network emphasized that data sharing and collaboration will be crucial for evaluating performance and scaling up.

Representing Eco2librium, a sustainability-focused organization based in Kenya, Field Director John Luseno presented their innovative bamboo waste-to-biochar initiative. The project, still in its early stages, is currently undergoing public and stakeholder consultations. It reflects the organization’s broader commitment to renewable energy and community empowerment through sustainable resource use.

A Step Closer to Formalization in Kenya

CBEN is nearing completion of its formal registration process with the Government of Kenya—a critical milestone that will increase the network’s visibility and credibility. This move is expected to unlock new opportunities for partnerships and policy engagement in support of sustainable agriculture and circular economy solutions.

As these developments show, CBEN continues to grow as a dynamic and solution-oriented network. From innovations in biochar production and fertilizer development to continental engagement and policy advocacy, the spirit of collaboration is at the core of every initiative collectively maximizing every opportunity to create a more sustainable, circular, and resilient future for agriculture in Kenya, Africa and beyond.

By Erick O. Abala

Head of Communications - CBEN