Planboo Malawi Biochar
Story

Planboo is on a mission to scale carbon removal while improving agricultural soil health in the tropics with biochar and compost.

Planboo has recently developed a biochar carbon removal project in Lilongwe, Malawi. In a 2022 IPC report it was estimated that 5.4 million Malawians are on the brink of extreme hunger within the country. This has been driven by increasing global fertiliser prices, increased severe weather events, and extreme poverty. 70% of the 19 million population of Malawi are living below the world poverty line of $1.90/day.

Planboo and their local partners Forest & Garden Services have developed a project that will produce 3,000 tonnes of organic biochar-enriched compost per year employing at least 50 people full-time. The biochar mixed compost will help increase the water holding capacity of local soils, allowing soils to build resilience to extreme weather events such as droughts or flooding.

The compost is a mixture of bamboo biochar, ground peanut shells, chicken manure, and Kariba weed that's sourced from the local water dam. The biochar is produced in 4x 1.5m diameter Kontiki kilns that have been modified with Planboo’s Greenbox; an IoT hardware device that helps Planboo HQ in Stockholm record and audit biochar production remotely. Planboo’s unique and innovative approach allows projects throughout the tropics to access much-needed carbon finance whilst following a rigorous methodology accredited by the European Biochar Standard.

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Technology
Biochar
Heating waste biomass in the absence of oxygen to produce carbon-rich biochar, which is highly stable and can sequester carbon in soil when applied as a soil enhancer.
Standard
European Biochar Certificate
Location

Central, Malawi

Policy

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The project meets the following goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Highlights
Project operational 1-3 years
Developer operational 1-3 years
Creates local job opportunities
Operates in multiple countries
Improves community environmental literacy
1-10 employees