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Project name: Kenya Biochar Soil Restoration
Location: Alego Usonga, Gem, Kisumu West, and Rachuonyo North, Kenya
Technology: Artisanal Biochar
Standard: Carbon Standards International
Methodology: Global Artisanal C-Sink
Estimated tonnes of CO₂ sequestered: ~ 20.000 tonnes of CO₂ over 10 years
Impact highlights: Enhanced soil fertility and crop yields, carbon sequestration, economic empowerment

Context: Soil degradation and food insecurity

Smallholder farmers in Kenya rely on subsistence agriculture, but soil degradation and poor land management have significantly reduced productivity. Population growth has intensified these issues, pushing many into less fertile areas as arable land becomes scarce. Widespread poverty limits access to agricultural resources, and food insecurity remains a persistent issue. Approximately 63% of Kenya's population lives below the international poverty line, with 36.5% already food insecure. Erratic weather and degraded soils result in low crop yields, leaving many families at risk of hunger.

Solution: Sustainable agriculture with biochar

Biochar is a sustainable, carbon-rich product created through the process of pyrolysis, which involves heating biomass at high temperatures in a low oxygen environment. This method concentrates carbon in a form that is highly resistant to biological decomposition, allowing it to be stored for hundreds of years. By providing biochar supplies and training to smallholder farmers in the project area, the project offers an alternative to open-field burning that improves soil quality, enhances agricultural productivity, reduces carbon emissions, and sequesters carbon in the soil for the long term.

Impact:

Enhanced soil fertility and crop yields:

The introduction of biochar technology improves soil health by increasing water and nutrient retention, boosting microbial activity, and enhancing soil aeration. This directly supports food security in smallholder farming communities. As a result, farmers experience significant increases in crop productivity, with yields rising by 20-30%. Healthier, more fertile soils also mean that farms become more resilient to environmental stresses such as drought, ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability and enabling farmers to grow more food for their communities.

Carbon sequestration:

By integrating biochar into their agricultural practices, smallholder farmers contribute to long-term carbon storage, helping combat climate change. Over time, this practice helps sequester a significant amount of carbon, transforming agriculture into a climate solution that supports global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biochar brings an alternative to open field burning, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality.

Economic empowerment

The project not only focuses on environmental sustainability but also on improving farmers' economic conditions. With higher crop yields and healthier soils, farmers can generate more income, enabling them to invest in their farms and improve their standard of living. This project also provides a valuable source of additional income, as farmers can earn up to 60 USD per tonne of biochar they produce. This helps break the cycle of poverty in rural areas, fostering economic resilience and empowerment in smallholder farming communities.

To ensure the highest impact and project progress standards, independent third-party verifiers will closely monitor and evaluate all the impacts above. In addition, our team of project experts conducts regular site visits, reaffirming our commitment to maintaining exceptional project quality.