The Future of Biochar Needs Every Voice

September 2025 | Read the full Global Biochar Industry Update

Last week, the IBI team participated in the US Biochar Initiative 's North American Biochar Conference (NABC). It was a chance to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, meet new partners, and learn about the latest ideas, trends, and research shaping the future of biochar. From field demonstrations to conversations on business development, permitting, and financing, to in-depth discussions on dMRV and standards, the energy was strong. You could really feel that biochar momentum is growing in many directions.

Spaces like the NABC are essential. They remind us how much progress has been made, the creativity of the sector, the value of working together, as well as the gaps in order to keep growing together. In many sessions you could feel the enthusiasm and engagement of attendees, from new opportunities in carbon markets, to the progress on ANSI standards that bring more trust and consistency into the sector. All of this shows biochar is moving from the margins to the center of climate and land-use solutions.

These conversations also echoed what we saw in the results of the last Global Biochar Survey: insufficient demand for physical biochar and the lack of product standards and specifications were identified as key challenges for the sector. The discussions at NABC, especially around markets and ANSI standards, show how the community is already responding to these gaps. But there is still much to do, and every perspective matters.

At the same time, the conference also made me think about what is still missing at the global level. To really unlock biochar’s potential, greater inclusion is essential: of women, of the Global South, of diverse voices in the spaces where decisions are made. A just transition is not possible if these perspectives are absent. Resilience cannot be built on absence.

Because in the end, resilience is what biochar is all about. It is not only about soil. It also helps strengthen communities, supports ecosystems, and contributes to climate action. Biochar is a tool to sow resilience and resistance, in our lands, our communities, and in the global story of climate change solutions.

This is why IBI keeps working to better understand the global biochar ecosystem. Together with USBI and the State of Carbon Dioxide Removal , we invite you to participate in the Global Biochar Survey. Your insights will help us identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities. We will make sure every voice is heard and guide the next steps for strategy, advocacy, and programs to support a stronger, more inclusive global movement.

Let’s keep growing together.

Warmly,

Valeria Araico , Ops and Programs Senior Manager