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Exploring Biochar and Sustainable Agriculture: The C-Sink Manager Artisanal Study Tour.

The Study Tour Team

The just concluded  C-Sink Manager Artisanal Study Tour was held in Baringo and Uasin Gishu counties and concluded in Nairobi. It was a unique opportunity to explore smallholder biochar production’s potential to enhance sustainable agricultural practices and carbon sequestration. Biochar, a carbon-rich soil amendment similar in appearance to charcoal, is produced by pyrolyzing organic materials such as crop residues. When biochar is returned to the soil, it not only enhances soil fertility but also sequesters carbon back into the soil, helping to mitigate climate change.


This tour aimed to introduce participants to biochar production methods and demonstrate how the voluntary carbon dioxide removal (CDR) market can support carbon credit accreditation and trading. The goal was to showcase biochar's potential benefits for smallholder farmers in Kenya and explore Artisinal C-Sink implementation in Ethiopia.


The tour focused on multiple aspects of biochar as a tool for soil regeneration and carbon sequestration. The emphasis was on tracking carbon sequestration accurately and ensuring the projects could be scaled effectively. A core component of the tour was hands-on biochar training, providing participants with practical experience in producing biochar using simple, cost-effective techniques suitable for smallholder farms. Additionally, the tour fostered knowledge exchange around biochar applications, covering recent research and innovations in the field. These insights empowered participants to envision biochar's feasibility across various agricultural contexts in Eastern Africa and highlighted the role biochar can play in promoting sustainable farming practices.


Collaborative Efforts to Drive Innovation

Organised with support from multiple institutions, including Ziada Solutions, PlantVillage, Okere City from Uganda, Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH (DBFZ), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the tour showcased the power of collaborative efforts in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Notable organizations like DBFZ (Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum), Biochar Life, Mosop Organics, Jimma University, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture shared their expertise during this tour. Their combined efforts were pivotal in delivering impactful training sessions, presentations, and field demonstrations.


One of the highlights was the hands-on artisanal biochar production in Baringo County, where PlantVillage shared insights on the C-Sink manager role and global artisanal accreditation processes.

On Day 2, the focus shifted to tackling invasive tree species such as Prosopis juliflora, where participants learned biochar production methods using the Kon-Tiki kiln and digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (dMRV) with the PlantVillage Plus Biochar App. Visits to biochar production sites offered participants a firsthand look at how agricultural waste like Prosopis is converted into biochar, improving soil structure, moisture retention, and reducing carbon emissions.


At an evening gathering in Eldoret, participants, including notable figures such as Dr. Kiplimo Arap Lagat, CECM for Agriculture and Cooperative Development in Nandi County, and Hon. Edward Sawe, CECM for Uasin Gishu County, discussed ongoing challenges and the broader adoption of biochar for sustainable agriculture in those counties.


Showcasing Advanced Techniques and Marketing Strategies

In Uasin Gishu, the study tour took a deeper dive into biochar production with advanced methods at the Kontiki tower.

Kon-Tiki Rig Tower

Here, PlantVillage demonstrated how biochar integrates well with agroforestry to boost soil fertility while capturing carbon. Lead farmers explained their sourcing of biomass, such as maize residues, for biochar production, underscoring its benefits in crop yield and soil health.

The session also included a focus on marketing biochar-based fertilizers, a promising avenue for smallholder farmers and other stakeholders interested in biochar's economic potential. Hon. Edward Sawe, CECM for Agriculture in Uasin Gishu, lent his support to the initiative, emphasising the importance of well-documented biochar projects to attract government backing for scaling sustainable practices.


"For the government to embrace such valuable soil amendment innovations, there must be a strong case from the C-Sink manager, demonstrating both effective models and sustainability. As a farmer leader using bio-fertilizers myself, I stand ready to support these advancements," Said Hon. Edward Sawe, CECM for Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Uasin Gishu County.

Hon. Edward Sawe (in green Jacket) with a section of the Ethiopian Soil Experts

The tour's final leg in Nairobi brought valuable insights from Dr. Dries Roobroeck of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), who shared findings from the GIZ-ProSoil study on biochar production from maize stover and other crop residues. His data-driven analysis covered production in counties such as Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Elgeyo-Marakwet, and Nandi. 


An engaging dinner in Nairobi to conclude the Study Tour. Presenting is Dr. Dries Roobroeck

"Biochar presents a powerful opportunity to not only boost crop yields but also offer financial resilience against the fertilizer crisis, all while contributing to carbon removal. This is a pathway toward sustainable agriculture that benefits both farmers and the environment." — Dr. Dries Roobroeck


Key outcomes discussed included biochar’s potential to counteract the fertilizer crisis, the financial benefits for farmers, and its role in carbon removal—a powerful endorsement of biochar’s value for resilient, sustainable farming.


Biochar Production and Monitoring Training

Throughout the tour, experts from PlantVillage led in-field demonstrations on biochar production using simple, scalable methods with materials like maize residues and Prosopis. These sessions highlighted best practices for biochar application in agriculture, emphasising the amendment’s role in improving soil moisture retention, nutrient absorption, and overall plant growth. Participants received training on biochar dosage and application methods, as well as techniques to measure biochar's impact on crop yields and soil health, such as in the grasslands of Marigat, Baringo-Kenya


Observations and Path Forward

The tour concluded with a clear message; Government, smallholder farmers, and community leaders in Baringo and Uasin Gishu counties are eager to adopt biochar practices, recognizing both the environmental and economic benefits. The Ethiopian community is also looking forward to implementing the C-Sink Manager policies to improve agriculture.


To support this interest, participants emphasized the need for simplified, low-cost monitoring tools to track carbon sequestration and suggested accessible training resources and consistent sensitization.  Regional collaboration, like the one seen throughout this tour, was also recognized as essential, creating a network where African farmers can share insights and maximize biochar’s impact on sustainable agriculture.


With the momentum generated by the C-Sink Manager Artisanal Study Tour, there is a promising path forward for biochar adoption and sustainable agriculture in East Africa and beyond. The tour's success has highlighted the value of knowledge exchange, the importance of innovative monitoring technologies, and the financial incentives of the carbon credit market—all of which can enable smallholder farmers to adopt biochar, improve soil health, and contribute to climate resilience in their communities.


This report is done by Erick O. Abala, Head of Communications at CBEN.

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