Biochar Learning and Collaboration in South East Asia

In May 2024, Chiang Mai, Thailand became host to IBI’s second annual Biochar Academy.

In partnership with ECHO Asia Impact Center, IBI facilitated the week-long, immersive peer-to-peer training for 70 biochar practitioners from 18 countries. A six-day event, the curriculum focused on equipping emerging and seasoned biochar professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to champion biochar’s myriad benefits, in their communities and beyond.

Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from biomass through pyrolysis or gasification, stands at the forefront of technology-based solutions to climate change. It has the potential to sequester carbon and enhance soil health, water retention, and microbial activity, amongst many other co-benefits. 

The IBI Biochar Academy provided participants with a hands-on, place-based introduction to these capabilities, demonstrating how biochar can improve agricultural practices and offer solutions for various societal and environmental challenges.

Watch the video for a glimpse into the program.

Academy Curriculum and Learning Objectives

The participants got an opportunity to connect with biochar leaders, share their unique perspectives and knowledge, and build life-long connections with fellow participants to work together for the growth of the global biochar industry. Participants were enthusiastic about the Biochar Academy: 100% of participants reported that this course was “very helpful” or “extremely helpful” for their careers in biochar. 

The event kicked off with an in-depth exploration of biochar production, focusing on the pyrolysis process that converts agricultural residues into this valuable resource. Attendees learned about the versatility of potential biochar applications, ranging from soil restoration within agricultural applications to countless opportunities for diverse industries such as energy, the built environment, cosmetics and more. 

The Biochar Academy impact is perhaps best represented by testimonials from some of the students:

I’m excited to put the knowledge gained at the Biochar Academy into action! One area I’m particularly interested in exploring is the use of bamboo-derived biochar to improve crop yields and soil health in Thai agriculture. Bamboo is a readily available and fast-growing resource in Thailand, making it a promising feedstock for biochar production. By researching and implementing this approach, we could contribute to a more sustainable agricultural future for Thai farmers, with the benefits of increased soil fertility, water retention, and potentially even enhanced crop yields.”

 — Participant from Biochar Academy 2024: Thailand

Across the six days of programming, including two site visits to a small-scale farm and university that is researching biochar concrete, participants learned: 

• • the relationship between biochar and climate change mitigation
• • how to make biochar using low-tech methods and identify a wide variety of applications for biochar
• • the current and future state of biochar research, commercial activity, and opportunities
• • the growing number of biochar production technologies, their co-products, scaling potential and more
• • how to navigate the carbon removal marketplace and opportunities for biochar producers and farmers (with a regional focus on Southeast Asia).

By emphasizing peer-learning and networking, the Biochar Academy fosters innovation and strengthens the global community of biochar practitioners through place-based learning at host locations around the world. 

Thanks to sponsors of the Academy, IBI was able to distribute 16 scholarships to  regionally-based participants of financial need. 

“I was [awarded a scholarship] from IBI so that’s very great and I’m thankful to IBI. IBI is doing good work and has given me a very nice chance to learn some more about carbon credits,  about biochar — and by getting this type of knowledge I will help some farmers, I will help society, and… increase the scope of biochar.”

— 2024 Academy Scholarship Recipient

Place-based Themes: Southeast Asia and Crop Burning 

An introductory activity of the Academy was conducting a SWOT analysis, which provided a collaborative overview of biochar’s role in Southeast Asia. They identified several strengths, including biochar’s compatibility with local soils and its potential to reduce chemical fertilizer use. Opportunities highlighted included the abundance of biomass for biochar production and the potential for energy applications and carbon credits. 

One of the academy’s highlights was the practical training sessions, where participants engaged directly with the biochar production process. These sessions illustrated the importance of feedstock selection, drying methods, and the integration of microbial material to maximize biochar’s benefits for agricultural use. By the end of the course, participants were not only proficient in producing biochar through demonstrated methods but also understood its diverse applications and potential impacts for soil and community.

In fact, during the Academy, it was the tail end of the crop-burning season in Thailand — and biochar’s ability to beneficially replace this practice was a much-discussed real-world application. Crop burning, also known as stubble burning, is the practice of setting fire to agricultural fields to clear crop residues after the harvest. In Thailand, this method is commonly used by farmers to quickly remove the remnants of crops for a number of reasons: it’s cost effective, time-saving, and it acts as a pest and disease deterrent. 

However, while crop burning might offer short-term benefits for farmers, it poses significant environmental and health hazards, contributing to climate change through: 

• Air Pollution: Burning crop residues releases large amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere like particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other harmful gases. This leads to poor air quality and severe health issues like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases among the population.

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The combustion of organic matter in crop residues releases greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change.
• Loss of Soil Nutrients: Repeated burning depletes the soil of essential nutrients, reducing its fertility over time. This necessitates the increased use of chemical fertilizers, which further exacerbates environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Biodiversity Loss: Frequent fires can destroy local flora and fauna, reducing biodiversity. This affects ecosystem balance and resilience, which are crucial for sustaining agricultural productivity in the long run.

Biochar offers a sustainable and effective alternative to crop burning by transforming crop residues into a valuable resource. In this way, biochar production reduces air pollution, enhances soil health, and contributes to climate change mitigation. However, in order to effectively change cultural practice, incorporating education, policy support, successful case studies, and affordable technology is essential. With the right support and adoption strategies, biochar can replace crop burning, leading to healthier ecosystems and more resilient agricultural practices.

“The Biochar Academy this year was awesome! It started with the basics — what biochar even is and how they make it. It turns out that what we can use and how can we cook it matters. We learned all about how biochar can be a game-changer for farms, helping plants grow better and hold onto water. But that’s not all! Biochar can apparently help fight climate change and clean up pollution too. They even showed us how to turn biochar into a business. Definitely got me thinking about new possibilities!” 

— Participant from Biochar Academy 2024: Thailand

Key Takeaways

The Biochar Academy is more than just a training program; it was a platform for knowledge exchange and community building. Participants from diverse backgrounds, including those involved in large-scale biochar production and small-scale farming, shared their experiences and insights. This collaboration fostered a deeper understanding of the regional specifics and community needs essential for biochar adoption — in fact, 67% of Biochar Academy participants reported new partnerships as a result of the program. 

Discussions emphasized the importance of demonstrating biochar’s tangible benefits to gain public and institutional support. The hands-on approach of the academy showed local and farther afield communities how biochar could reduce agricultural waste, improve soil health, and create economic opportunities, making a compelling case for its widespread adoption.

Thanks to the 2024 Academy Partners 

Thanks to the 2024 Academy Sponsors 

Thanks to the 2024 Academy Program Presenters

ANZBIG 

CTO Alcom Carbon Markets Pte

Carbon Standards International 

Biochar Life

Hamerkop Climate Impacts 

Puro.earth

Warm Heart Foundation

WongphAI 

Verra