Introduction

The Indonesian Biochar Association was established in 2012 by a group of passionate environmentalists, including Hashim Djojohadikusumo, among others. The association was formed to promote the use of biochar as a sustainable solution for agricultural waste management, soil health improvement, and climate change mitigation. The founders recognized the transformative potential of biochar and aimed to create a platform that promotes its understanding, production, and use as a tool for sustainable agriculture and climate action.

A Systematic review of over 1,500 scientific papers, highlights the positive impacts of biochar in agriculture. On average, biochar application significantly increases plant productivity (+16%), crop yield (+13%), water use efficiency (+20%), soil organic carbon (+39%) and available soil nutrients (+45% for phosphorus). Furthermore, biochar can reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (-11%) and plant heavy metal uptake (-29%). The association supports research initiatives to improve biochar production techniques and understand its benefits, offering training programs and workshops to educate farmers, agricultural professionals, and policymakers about biochar.

It also advocates for policies that support the development and adoption of biochar technologies, working with government agencies to create favorable regulatory frameworks and incentives for biochar projects. Additionally, the association works to develop markets for biochar products, helping producers find buyers and promoting the use of biochar in various industries. By facilitating knowledge exchange and partnerships among stakeholders in the biochar industry, the association plays a crucial role in advancing biochar technology and its adoption in Indonesia.

Advancing Biochar Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) in Indonesia

The latest climate model scenarios show that all pathways that keep temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C require carbon removal. The amount ultimately needed will depend on how quickly we can reduce emissions in the near term and long term. Biochar has emerged as a promising tool for carbon dioxide removal (CDR), and the association's efforts have led to significant progress in several key areas. Biochar's ability to sequester carbon for long periods makes it an effective tool for mitigating climate change, and the association promotes its use to capture and store carbon, helping Indonesia meet its carbon reduction targets. Biochar also improves soil fertility and water retention, leading to increased agricultural productivity, and the association's initiatives have helped farmers adopt biochar, resulting in healthier soils and higher crop yields. By converting agricultural residues into biochar, the association addresses waste management challenges, reducing the need for burning crop residues, which contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The insetting the which will be used by commons prosaically in agriculture with issues like traceability.

Biochar removal offers a comprehensive blend of economic, environmental, and social benefits. In regions most affected by climate change, it can deliver climate justice, directing mitigation benefits where they're most needed a sentiment echoed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2022 report.

The association's efforts have created new economic opportunities for farmers and rural communities, as producing and selling biochar generates additional income, contributing to local economic development. Biochar enhances the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change by improving soil structure and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, making farming more sustainable and less vulnerable to climate impacts.

Achievements and Future Directions

The Indonesian Biochar Association has made significant impacts through various initiatives. Despite successes, challenges remain, such as limited awareness, high production costs, and the need for supportive policies. The association is addressing these by increasing outreach and education, promoting efficient production techniques, supporting cost-effective research, and advocating for supportive policies. Building partnerships with government agencies, research and financial institutions, carbon standards, project developers, and industry stakeholders is also a key focus.

The association is at the forefront of promoting biochar for sustainable agriculture and climate action in Indonesia. Through research, advocacy, and capacity-building, it aims to unlock biochar's potential to improve soil health, manage agricultural waste, and sequester carbon, playing a critical role in advancing sustainable agriculture and climate action in Indonesia.

For more details or to join the association, please visit the contact page on the official website.

Offset8 Capital is proud to support the first-ever Carbon Forward Middle East Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the inaugural Platinum Sponsor.

The conference, coinciding with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025, will be the Middle East’s first ever Carbon Markets conference to be held on 16 and 17 January 2025 at the prestigious Rosewood Abu Dhabi, UAE.

It will feature expert speakers and leading voices in the carbon markets and industry from the region and globally sharing insights and innovations. It will also be an opportunity to connect with key stakeholders, policymakers, and industry leaders and explore the latest trends and strategies in the carbon markets and Article 6 developments in the Middle East region.

We invite all international, national and regional stakeholders to join the largest carbon market event to connect, learn, and discuss the future of carbon markets in the Middle East region.

Brought to you by Carbon Pulse and Redshaw Advisors Ltd

Reach out to us for partnership opportunities and stay tuned for more updates.

Also, visit carbon-forward.com for more details

Stakeholder Team
info@offset8capital.com