At Biochar Life, we’ve always believed that solving global challenges like climate change requires strong and trusted local partnerships. That’s why we’re excited to share that Corus International’s Indonesia team will now be working alongside us to scale biochar production in the region. Together, we’ll build the capacity needed to deliver high-quality carbon removal credits for both global and Southeast Asian customers, including Grab, which is now offsetting driver emissions in Thailand and Indonesia by supporting our carbon removal projects in these countries.
Our relationship with Corus International dates back several years. In 2023, their impact investing arm, Ground Up Investing (GUI), became an early investor in Biochar Life. That investment helped us expand programs with smallholder farmers and strengthen the foundation we’ve been building ever since.
This next step is a natural extension of that relationship. By working with the Corus team in Indonesia, we gain not only a partner with strong local knowledge but also the operational support we need to produce biochar closer to where it will be used; and as we’ve seen firsthand, scaling responsibly requires trusted partners on the ground.
"Partnering with Corus International in Indonesia gives us the regional support we need to deliver at scale,” says Matt Rickard, COO of Biochar Life. “Their team brings the operational know-how and local connections that will help us meet our commitments to partners like Grab and strengthen the impact of our work.”
Indonesia is one of the world’s largest agricultural producers, and crop residues are an abundant yet often underutilised resource. Too often, these materials are burned in the open, releasing smoke and greenhouse gases that harm both people and the planet. By converting this waste into biochar, we can lock away carbon, improve soil health, and create additional income streams for farmers.
Through this program, the Corus team has partnered with local corn mills to collect cob waste that would otherwise be discarded or burned. Instead of contributing to smoke pollution, that material is now transformed into biochar and returned to farmers as a valuable resource for their lands—helping them reduce their reliance on costly chemical fertilisers. The result is a cycle that not only removes carbon but also improves air quality and strengthens farming systems.
Working with Corus in Indonesia allows us to:
For Corus, this collaboration builds on its longstanding presence in Indonesia. As Evi Esaly Kaban, Program Director at Corus International (Indonesia), puts it: “This collaboration allows us to build on Corus’ long history of supporting communities in Indonesia. By working with Biochar Life, we can help scale biochar production in a way that contributes to both climate goals and farmer livelihoods.”
Looking Ahead to 2025 and Beyond
Our immediate priority is preparing for the delivery of credits to Grab, scheduled to begin in late 2025. That means ramping up production capacity in 2025 and 2026, building systems for quality control, and ensuring verification processes are in place.
The Corus team is already mobilising facilities and training staff in Indonesia to make this possible. Their presence on the ground allows us to move quickly, adapt to challenges, and stay closely connected to the farmers and communities at the heart of this work.
We’re also proud of the progress we’ve made so far. Biochar Life currently ranks 11th on the CDR.fyi leaderboard, with more than 22,000 carbon credits sold and over 21,000 already delivered. This track record demonstrates not only our ability to deliver at scale but also the reliability that buyers like Grab can expect as we grow.
But this partnership is about more than just one delivery. It represents a scalable model for how Biochar Life can continue to expand globally, working with local partners who share our mission and values to build long-term capacity for climate and community impact.
At Biochar Life, our mission is to fight climate change while improving rural livelihoods. Corus, through both its international programs and Ground Up Investing, has a similar vision: strengthening smallholder economies and creating opportunities for farmers to thrive.
By aligning our efforts in Indonesia, we’re showing what collaboration can look like—where carbon removal, sustainable agriculture, and community development reinforce one another.
This is the type of model we believe is essential if carbon removal is to reach the scale the world needs: global problems solved through local action.
As we look to the future, this partnership gives us confidence that we can deliver on our commitments while creating lasting benefits for farming communities in Indonesia. We’re grateful for the trust Corus has placed in us, and for the leadership of Evi Esaly Kaban and her team, who are already making this vision a reality.
We’ll continue sharing updates as production ramps up and delivery milestones are reached. For now, this agreement marks an important step forward—not just for Biochar Life and Corus, but for the communities and climate outcomes we’re working toward together.
👉 Would you like to learn more about how we’re working with farmers in Southeast Asia to reduce smoke pollution and remove carbon? Get in touch!