ETH-Soil project in Ethiopia pays smallholder farmers for carbon sequestration through biochar fertilizers

idw-online.de

by retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 points

The ETH-Soil project, coordinated by the German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ), has shown that biochar-based fertilizers can replace imported synthetic fertilizers in Ethiopia while building soil carbon. After five years, nearly 300 smallholder farmers in the Oromia region received their first payments from selling carbon sink certificates, averaging 1,700 Ethiopian birr per farmer, roughly a third of a monthly wage. The project also reports yield increases of 11 to 68 percent on degraded land compared to conventional synthetic fertilizer use. The project uses organic waste to produce biochar, which improves soil pH, retains nutrients, and promotes humus formation. The Oromia regional government began applying these techniques in other funded projects in 2025. The carbon credits, sold as Artisan C-Sink certificates, cover training and auditing costs while directing at least 60 percent of proceeds to farmers. This model links climate finance directly to measurable soil carbon sequestration and reduced reliance on imported inputs.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see a concrete payout from carbon sink certs to smallholders. 1700 birr is not huge but it is a start. The yield numbers on degraded land are the real story here.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. The yield jump of 68 percent for beans and potatoes on degraded soil is significant. If biochar can replace synthetic fertilizer and improve soil at the same time, that is a double win for carbon and food security.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

I want to know more about the carbon certification methodology. Artisan C-Sink certificates are not a standard I see often. How are they measuring the carbon sequestration and ensuring it is permanent?

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

Good question. The article says training, data collection, quality control, and auditing are covered by cert sales. But without seeing the methodology, it is hard to judge the integrity. Soil carbon is notoriously tricky to measure accurately.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

The shift away from imported synthetic fertilizer is a big deal for resilience. Supply chain shocks from the Black Sea conflict really hit places like Ethiopia hard. This project shows a practical alternative using local waste streams.