Our approach to verification

The first aspect of our verification approach starts with trained farmers. We ensure that projects and local partners engage trained farmers who are familiar with making and applying biochar properly. In our tracking and reporting system, we record the training sessions or training certificates of the farmer in their profile.

In most cases, we make a minimum of 2 visits to a farmer site. One visit when the farmer is making biochar and one visit when the farmer is applying the biochar in their field(s). When a farmer produces greater than 5 tonnes of biochar then we may decide to visit the farmer 4 times.In all cases, the verifier is recording multiple pictures, data and location information throughout the entire making and application steps. We record biomass to ensure its waste biomass, pyrolysis process to ensure it’s a clean burn and record the quantity of biochar. Additionally, the verifier works with our local Country Manager to pay the farmers for their efforts. The payment information is recorded in the tracking system.We standardize volume methods. In most cases, it’s a 20 L bucket and standard size bags. Using volume as the method to determine quantity eliminates the need to know moisture amounts. We collect pictures of full bags.

Centralised certification teamAs an additional step of control in the verification process, we have all data that is submitted from verifiers reviewed by a central certification team. The team are seasoned experts of biochar and the standard. They review all the data to ensure it is accurate and images are clear. If there are any quality and accuracy issues then the data is rejected and the verifier must work with the farmer and local Country manager to submit a new biochar activity record.

Our team along will perform random audits of production and application activities by farmers. For example, our team will record the temperature during the pyrolysis process to ensure it reaches the necessary temperature.Additionally, Ceres who are accredited auditors of CSI will perform yearly audits of C-sink farmers and Artisan Pros. Finally, we perform ongoing sampling of biochar produced by farmers to ensure the C content and H/C ratios are acceptable.In the case of Artisan Pro projects, much higher frequency and storage of samples are performed.

Our approach and process to verification is grouned (pun intended) by our highly qualified local team and fully transparent dMRV.