A Kenyan climate-focused company, TERA, has initiated a project in Kisumu that will convert agricultural waste into biochar, which is an alternative fertilizer that can enhance soil water retention.
- The company announced this during the International Day of Rural Women, highlighting that the biochar facility will transform lives of Kisumu women by creating jobs and enabling food security, while still addressing climate change.
- TERA will harness bargasse – the fibrous by-product of processed sugarcane – into biochar using advanced pyrolysis technology, turning one of the region’s most abundant agricultural waste resource into a sustainable product.
- The biochar will also reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and will target rural women who are an integral part of the continent’s economic development.
“Our biochar technology transforms this agricultural byproduct into a sustainable input that enhances crop resilience, improves soil health, and bolsters food security,” TERA CEO, Rob Palmer said.
“Alongside these benefits, we are also creating sustainable jobs for women in rural areas, positioning them at the forefront of Africa’s biochar revolution. Our goal is to become the largest biochar company in Africa, delivering scalable social impact and investable climate action across the continent,” he added.
TERA envisions that by 2030, 1 million tons of Carbon dioxide will be sequestered through their sustainable solutions. Positioning the biochar facilities near agricultural centers aims to optimize the company’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions and waste, while providing opportunities for farmers to benefit economically.
The company intends to scale up its operations across Africa, noting that there are 3.6 million tons of potential biochar that can be produced in the continent. This biochar will aim to positively impact 2.6 million acres of agricultural farmland.
