Clean Air for Northern Thailand: How Biochar Helps Reduce PM2.5

I live in the hills of Northern Thailand, and every morning I walk outside to start the day. Right now, in the cool winter season, the air is crisp and the mist hangs low over the fields — a reminder of just how beautiful this region can be.

But those of us who live here know how temporary it is. In a few months, many of these quiet valleys will fill with smoke as open-field burning begins. PM2.5 levels will rise sharply, schools often close, and entire communities will feel the effects of air pollution that has become an annual cycle.

This seasonal shift — from fresh morning air to hazardous haze — is why our work at Biochar Life matters. Because behind the smoke are smallholder farmers who often have no alternative but to burn. And behind every clean morning is a chance to change that.

As the season shifts, PM2.5 levels in Northern Thailand often climb to some of the highest in the world. Cities like Chiang Mai can see air quality readings 6–8 times above the WHO safe limit, and rural farming communities are often hit even harder. This isn’t just a haze problem — it impacts respiratory health, economic activity, and overall quality of life.

The Real Cost of Burning: A Health and Climate Issue

While open-field burning may seem like a quick solution for clearing land, the health and environmental consequences are severe — and felt across every level of society. Research has shown that PM2.5 exposure is linked to:

• increased respiratory illnesses
• cardiovascular disease
• reduced cognitive performance
• premature deaths (studies estimate 50,000–60,000 deaths per year in Thailand may be linked to air pollution)

Children, elderly people, and farmers working closest to the smoke are especially vulnerable.

Climate risk is rising as well. A recent Bangkok Post report noted that Thailand now ranks 17th globally for climate vulnerability, driven largely by air pollution and agricultural emissions. Another article highlighted ongoing red-level smog alerts across Bangkok and nearby provinces — a reminder that air pollution is no longer just a northern or seasonal issue, but a national challenge.

Turning a Problem Into a Solution: The Power of Biochar

Biochar is a clean alternative to burning — and it does three big things at once:

1. Reduces PM2.5 and smoke emissions

When farmers convert crop residues to biochar instead of burning them, PM2.5 emissions drop by more than 95%, depending on the technology used. Our improved kilns, especially the new Aom Kiln, are designed to minimise smoke and methane by improving airflow, heat distribution, and combustion efficiency.

2. Locks carbon away for hundreds of years

Biochar stabilises carbon that would otherwise be released as CO₂ or methane.

On average:

• 1 tonne of biochar = 1.8 to 2 tonnes of CO₂e removed
  
• Permanence = hundreds to thousands of years, depending on soil conditions

Since founding, Biochar Life has generated over 21,000 tonnes of verified carbon removals — all from distributed smallholder production.

3. Improves soil health and reduces farmer expenses

Applying biochar to soil has measurable benefits:

• 15–25% increase in water retention
  
• Better nutrient efficiency, reducing fertiliser use by up to 30%
  
• Higher crop yields over time
• Improved long-term soil resilience

For farmers in regions increasingly affected by drought and rainfall variability, this resilience matters.

Innovation on the Ground: Aom Kiln + Emissions Testing

This November, we hosted the Ithaka Institute at our Warm Heart site in Phrao to conduct emissions testing on the Aom Kiln. This was an important step in validating:

• methane reduction
• smoke output
• temperature curves
• carbon stability of the produced biochar

These tests support our goal of achieving CSI certification by 2026 and providing buyers with high-integrity data through our upcoming digital MRV system, which will integrate IoT sensors to track each production batch.

A Human Story Behind the Technology

Our co-founder Aom has trained more than 2,000 farmers in biochar production. Her message is simple:

“Farmers don’t want to burn. They just don’t have alternatives. Biochar gives them a better path — for their soil, their income, and the air we all breathe.”

One tonne of biochar produced by a farmer using our system:

• prevents 3–5 tonnes of crop residue from open burning.
• avoids the release of significant PM2.5
• provides direct income through carbon credit payments
• improves their own soil and crop productivity

With over $1M redistributed to rural communities, the model is already generating real socio-economic impact.

See the Work in Action

Our short film — which includes footage from the upcoming documentary Breathe — shows exactly what this transformation looks like on the ground. Shot in Phrao, it follows the journey from open-field burning to clean, efficient biochar production.

Through the lens of the film, you’ll meet the farmers driving this change, watch the Aom Kiln in operation, and hear directly from communities living with the impacts of seasonal smoke pollution. It’s a glimpse into both the challenges and the hope emerging across Northern Thailand.

A Future With Cleaner Air — One Kiln at a Time

Northern Thailand’s clean-air challenge is complex, but biochar offers one of the most effective and scalable solutions — especially when combined with technology, transparency, and carbon finance.

Biochar Life is committed to building this future by:

• expanding Aom Kiln deployment
• improving emissions monitoring
• scaling our digital MRV platform
• deepening partnerships across Southeast Asia
• empowering more smallholders with alternatives to burning

If you’re interested in partnering, supporting our work, or learning more, we’d love to connect. Together, we can turn smoke into soil, waste into value, and pollution into climate action.