Project type: Biomass , Biochar
Project location: Huila, Antioquia and Santander, Colombia
Project status: In operation, credits available
Annual emission reduction of the whole project: approx. 3000 tonnes of CO₂e
This climate protection project in Colombia removes CO2 from the atmosphere by storing local waste wood from coffee fields in the soil long term in the form of biochar. Biochar also improves soil fertility, increases crop yields and increases water storage capacity.
Colombia is traditionally a major coffee-growing country. Caring for the coffee trees results in a lot of pruned material that is either burned in an uncontrolled manner or left behind. This project was launched in collaboration with several hundred farms in the departments of Huila, Antioquia and Santander in order to use the waste wisely and, at the same time, capture CO2 in the long term. The project improves the economic situation of the farmers, who are often at risk of poverty and find it difficult to assert themselves in the coffee market. It trains them to convert the waste wood into high-quality biochar (a form of charcoal). This process is called pyrolysis.
How does pyrolysis work?
Pyrolysis refers to the thermal conversion (heating) of biomass in the absence of oxygen. The material carbonises to a sponge-like, porous carbon structure, while the volatile components are burned cleanly as an energy-rich gas to form CO2. The pyrolysed wood residues are then mixed with compost and spread through the soil. Thus, the Carbon remains permanently stored in the soil. The project will develop its own pyrolysis plant that meets the needs of the region and can be transported from farm to farm. Thanks to smart technology, the temperature can be continuously recorded digitally.
Additional benefits of the project
The biochar introduced into the soil also boosts the supply of nutrients. This improves soil quality to the point where around 30 per cent less fertiliser is required, which is better for the environment and saves money. In addition, the water storage capacity of the soil improves, making it better able to withstand increasingly frequent droughts. In addition to storing CO2, biochar can reduce emissions from coffee cultivation and stabilise soil carbon. Biochar in the soil and in compost leads to reduced leaching of nutrients into bodies of water. In other words, the project will compost the waste from coffee production and incorporate it into biochar instead of it ending up in bodies of water as nitrogen.
The project is the perfect win-win-win situation: farmers transform waste wood into fertile soil and thus increase their yields. At the same time, the climate benefits as the CO₂ is stored in the soil in the long term. Less waste, more fertility, better climate - everyone wins!
Additionality and guidelines
The project enables farmers to make use of the additional carbon sink capacity of biochar and receive fair compensation for their work. 60 per cent of the proceeds go to local producers. Without this project, the biomass would either rot or be burned immediately, neither of which would create a carbon sink. Only wood from pruning carried out on the coffee plantations may be used for production of biochar, and the quantity per area is strictly limited.
There is huge potential for climate resilience in the Global South - directly in the fields. Our clean and mobile biochar technology makes CO₂ removal and soil building scalable in the tropics by utilising agricultural residues, which are available locally in virtually unlimited quantities, directly on site.
Project partner and standard
The project developer and myclimate’s exclusive project partner, Cotierra, is a young Zurich-based start-up with the mission of decarbonising agricultural supply chains by sequestering carbon in the soil. Together with the local partner Carcafe, this innovative, decentralised biochar project was developed to promote the long-term removal of CO2 (permanent carbon dioxide removal, CDR). The methodology used here is called “Global Artisan C-Sink”. Cotierra guarantees ethical wages, safe working conditions and fair treatment. Farmers have access to a WhatsApp hotline where they can report concerns about working conditions, environmental impacts, or social problems.
Monitoring, impact measurement and review
Every step of biochar production and application is digitally checked, monitored and registered by a supervisory and management team. A smartphone tracking app is used to document these steps in the form of georeferenced photos and the information is then stored in CSI-accredited software. The app ensures reliable tracking and transparency of the supply chain. For more information, see “Documentation”.
Why do we need carbon removals?
Negative emissions are now considered necessary to achieve the Paris climate targets. On the climate path we are currently on, there is no longer enough time to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere sufficiently quickly simply by reducing and avoiding CO2 emissions.
*As of April 2025. Find out how myclimate reports these SDGs in our FAQ.
Additional income for several hundred farming families
Clean recycling of waste biomass without air pollutants or greenhouse gases
Access for women to training programmes and leadership positions
Creation of additional employment opportunities in plant maintenance, logistics, training and monitoring
Improved economic situation of farmers
Closed loops and more carbon in the soil
Capture of approx. 3000 tonnes of CO2e per year
Improved water quality by avoiding nutrient leaching
Training farmers in the production and application of biochar, as well as in soil health, microorganisms and composting
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