This week marked a major milestone for Biochar Life and the growing community of smallholder farmers, local leaders, and partners who have believed in the power of grassroots climate solutions.
Since we launched in 2022, we've been on a mission to unlock the potential of farmer-led carbon removal — not just to combat climate change, but to uplift communities often left out of global climate finance.
Now, just two years later, we’re proud to share this:
👉 Over $1 million in direct payments has been made to farmers and local communities across our programs.
It’s a big number. But more importantly, it represents thousands of small wins — harvests saved, children educated, food on the table, and fires that didn't burn. It's proof that when we invest in people at the frontlines of climate change, we get a lasting impact in return.
Our work starts where many climate conversations often don’t — in the rural fields of Kenya, Malawi, Thailand, and Indonesia. Here, the challenge is twofold:
Our solution is simple but powerful: train farmers to turn that crop waste into biochar — a stable form of carbon that can be buried in the soil, enriching it while locking carbon away for centuries. When farmers produce and sell biochar through Biochar Life, they earn income from the carbon removal credits we sell to responsible companies around the world.
Since day one, we’ve believed in one core principle: climate solutions should benefit the people who need them most.
This milestone is the result of thousands of transactions, trust-filled conversations, and boots-on-the-ground support.
Here’s a snapshot of the journey so far:
We didn’t do this alone. These numbers reflect the efforts of local teams, leaders, and partner organizations working together to make climate action more inclusive.
Behind every payment is a person. Like Risper Nyawanda in Kenya, who told us:
Biochar Life helped me turn waste into something that gives back. I can now pay for my children’s school fees without worry.
Or Ibrahim Mula, one of our verifiers:
This job gave me a new purpose. It’s not just income — it’s pride, knowing I’m helping my community and the planet.
From increased food security to cleaner air and restored soil, the ripple effects go far beyond carbon. This is the power of co-benefits — when solving one problem creates solutions for many.
We live in a world of top-down climate tech and billion-dollar bets on future solutions. But farmer-led climate action is here, now, and already delivering results.
Every tonne of CO₂ removed through our model is traceable. Every payment is verified. Every community involved is uplifted — not just contracted.
Our impact isn’t just about carbon. It’s about dignity. Health. Economic freedom. And the belief that those closest to the land are best placed to protect it.
Reaching $1 million in direct payments isn’t just a financial milestone — it’s a signal that farmer-led climate action works. When we invest in the people who are already stewarding the land, we unlock solutions that are both deeply local and globally impactful.
— Jason Highberger, CEO, Biochar Life
Reaching $1 million is just the beginning.
In 2025, we’re scaling up. With support from new tools like WasteX machines in Thailand and improved digital MRV platforms, our aim is to double farmer participation, expand into new regions, and deepen our community partnerships.
We’re also making it easier for anyone to get involved:
This milestone belongs to every farmer who took a chance, every verifier who walked the fields, every partner who believed in the mission, and every supporter who backed our vision for people-first climate action.
We still have a long way to go. But today, we pause to celebrate one thing:
Change is not only possible — it’s already happening.
And it’s being led by the people who grow our food, care for the land, and now, remove carbon from the atmosphere.
Here’s to the next million. 🙌
Would you like to learn how biochar can help your business achieve its sustainability goals?