This is Biochar: Transforming Bamboo Waste into Community Wealth

In the heart of Thailand, a 6.5-meter phoenix sculpture made entirely of biochar spreads its wings, representing the annual carbon footprint of the average person. 

Erected by artist Ben Von Wong, the carbon phoenix has taken the internet by storm, symbolizing the powerful opportunity of regeneration that biochar can bring to the earth’s soils, and the global initiative for climate action. 

This sculpture also marks the location of WongPhai, a bamboo-to-biochar farm and operation owned by Komchalat (Kom) Thongting and Saranrat (Nui) Tanthiptham. Kom and Nui are taking the biochar industry by storm themselves. As a husband and wife entrepreneurship team, they have created a biochar company that is empowering farmers, turning waste into ecological renewal, and modeling sustainable and circular systems.

Kom and Nui’s biochar journey, formalized under their company WongPhai, is rooted in a variation of a “timeless” Thai proverb: “If your plan is for one year, plant rice; if your plan is for ten years, plant trees; if your plan is for one hundred years, educate children and capture carbon longer than 100 years—make biochar!” 

This philosophy is guiding them on a path toward climate change action and legacy-building in Thailand.

“With biochar, we can change the community, we can change Thailand, and we hope that we can change the world as well.”

– Komchalat (Kom) Thongting

Even before their involvement in IBI’s Biochar Academy, Kom and Nui had delved into the world of pyrolysis biochar production. The IBI training became the catalyst they needed to move forward with their new passion: addressing waste in Thailand and empowering rural communities. 

“[In 2023] my wife and I attended the IBI Academy,” Kom said. “When we came back, on the day that we land in Thailand, we start our work straight away and we haven’t stopped doing it.” 

The biochar venture began in Prachinburi, amid bamboo forests that have long been a source of livelihood for local communities through agricultural, handicrafts, and more — and the waste from these industries is where Kom and Nui saw an opportunity to transform waste into a valuable resource that benefits both the environment and the local economy.

Thailand is home to many species of bamboo, with WongPhai stewarding around 90 varieties on their farm. Bamboo is valued for its sustainability. It grows rapidly, reaching maturity in just 3–5 years, and can be harvested without causing significant environmental degradation. Bamboo plays a crucial role in Thailand’s economy, particularly in rural areas. It is used in various industries, including construction, furniture, handicrafts, paper production, and (more recently) biochar production.

From Waste to Health and wealth

Kom and Nui recognized that biochar production could offer a solution to the economic uncertainties faced by villagers while addressing environmental challenges. By introducing biochar as a soil enhancer and an income-generating product, they provided farmers with an alternative to conventional agricultural practices. In essence, at the heart of WongPhai is empowering farmers and local community members. 

In addition to using bamboo as a feedstock, they involve trading cassava biomass from farmers for biochar to both improve soil health and also generate carbon credits. This win-win model boosts community resilience, incentivizes farmers to participate in biochar production, while also building trust in the impact that biochar has on the soil. 

Biochar’s positive impact expands into protecting the health of the community as well, offering an alternative to a problematic agricultural practice that causes harm to soils and human health: burning crop residues.

Farmers in Thailand, particularly in the northern regions, commonly burn crop residues after harvest. This practice is often referred to as “slash-and-burn” or “stubble burning”, occurring between February and April, just before the rainy season, as farmers prepare for the next planting cycle.

Many farmers burn their crop residues because it’s cheap, it’s fast, and it’s what they may have been taught to do, generation after generation. However, the negative side effects are substantial: 

• Air Pollution: Crop burning releases large amounts of particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, and other harmful gases into the atmosphere that contribute to climate change
• Respiratory and Cardiovascular Issues: The PM2.5 from burning can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to respiratory problems alongside its exposure causing an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular conditions
• Soil Degradation: Repeated burning depletes organic matter in the soil, leading to reduced soil fertility and increased erosion over time
• Loss of Biodiversity: The practice can destroy habitats for wildlife and beneficial insects, reducing biodiversity in agricultural areas

Producing biochar from the agricultural waste provides an alternative that can generate income, lessen air pollution, and create a product that, once returned to the field, enhances soil health for decades to come.  

Kom and Nui have found that while many farmers might not jump to change their practices after simply learning about biochar, demonstrating the financial incentive of selling biomass, rather than burning it, goes a long way to peak their interest and bring them on board. The enthusiasm grows once they see the crop performance comparison between the biochar enhanced soil and the control. 

At every opportunity they are presented with, they talk about the opportunities of biochar — a climate change solution that so few know about, “an unknown world” as Kom puts it.  

pushing what’s possible

Similar to many who embark on creating impact in the biochar sector, passion is a key ingredient to Kom and Nui’s success. They seem to be consistently asking the question “what’s possible?” And then they find a way to do it. 

Their journey hasn’t been without challenges. Kom and Nui have faced skepticism, technical hurdles, and the immense task of changing long-standing practices while developing a robust marketing for biochar products. Yet, they remain undeterred. Their journey is one of overcoming obstacles, of turning setbacks into learning opportunities, and of continuing to push forward with a clear sense of purpose.

Their vision, and learnings from the IBI Biochar Academy, has led to important regional collaborations, such as with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), where they have conducted workshops on biochar production and application in a “train-the-trainer” setting to ensure that the knowledge and skills necessary for biochar production are passed on and that the benefits are widely shared. These efforts have sparked curiosity and a growing commitment to sustainable practices among local farmers — a clear sign of demand for ongoing biochar education that IBI is poised to deliver in ongoing programs in the region in 2025. 

In the hands of Kom and Nui, biochar isn’t just a product—it’s a tool for transformation. It’s about nurturing the earth, empowering communities, and leaving a legacy of sustainability for future generations. 

As they continue to scale their impact, Kom and Nui envision a future where biochar becomes integral to Thailand’s agricultural and economic landscape. Their aspirations extend beyond their immediate community — they see the potential for biochar across Southeast Asia, from Laos to Vietnam and beyond, to unite stakeholders across sectors and borders, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Their message is clear: the time to act is now. The challenges of climate change and environmental degradation are urgent, and the solutions must be equally so.

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IBI’s Biochar Academy is empowering new and seasoned biochar professionals to make novel impact on the industry. Learn more about IBI educational programming and our mission.