Harnessing Cocoa Waste for Biochar Production and Climate Resilient Cocoa Farming
What is the main objective of the project?
By piloting biochar production from farm waste on an industrial scale and applying it on cocoa farms, the project aims to show that agricultural waste can become an opportunity for farmers.
This project delivers a triple bottom line by upcycling biomass, improving farmers’ access to high-quality green fertiliser that enhances soil health and stores carbon in the ground, and creating additional income streams for farmers. The project will also develop mechanisms to monetise carbon emission reduction and sequestration through insetting and offsetting. The project brings this climate-smart innovation into a commercially viable supply chain, creating long-term value, improving soil fertility, and reducing cocoa’s carbon footprint.
“We are trying something new that isn’t common in the cocoa industry, as pods are often wasted and rarely monetised. We started biochar production on a small scale and have already seen the positive benefits in terms of carbon sequestration, so this would take these climate and farmer benefits to the next level.”
How the project contributes to sustainable cocoa production
The project pilots a circular, zero-waste model that embeds industrial-scale biochar production into the cocoa supply chain by turning cocoa waste into a resource for long-term soil health, increased yields, and climate resilience. Processing farm-level cocoa waste reduces on-farm methane emissions and replaces synthetic fertilisers with a carbon-negative input.
This shift not only cuts emissions but also boosts productivity on underperforming farms, which are common in Côte d’Ivoire. The project aims to scale this model with consistent quality and volume, developing compensation and distribution models for farmers. A key focus is assessing biochar’s carbon sequestration potential to unlock carbon finance and promote fair value distribution.
What steps are taken during the project?
The project will be centred in the Daloa region of Côte d’Ivoire, a major cocoa trading hub. The first step is to improve how cocoa waste is collected and prepared. A pilot biochar machine will then be used to test how well it performs and the quality of the biochar it produces.
In collaboration with local partners, biochar-based fertiliser blends will be developed and tested on cocoa and other crops. To ensure farmers benefit as much as possible, different reward options are being tested, such as giving them cash or fertiliser in exchange for their cocoa waste. This helps to determine what works best for both their farms and incomes. The business case for this innovation will rely on the sale of the final products as well as carbon monetisation.
Two key carbon monetisation approaches – offsetting and insetting – are being explored and developed. Other sustainability activities help amplify the impact of the intervention, including climate-smart cocoa training, on-farm soil testing, agroforestry, and child labour monitoring.
What is innovative about this project?
While biochar application is an ancient practice used in the Amazon Basin as far back as 10,000 years ago, this project brings it up to date as a scalable, climate-smart cocoa farming model.
The project is innovative firstly by upcycling cocoa waste into biochar-based fertilisers that can replace synthetic alternatives.
Second, it provides cocoa farmers with an additional source of income by rewarding them for their biomass.
Third, the biochar-based fertiliser is returned to the farms to help boost yields and improve soil health. Fourth, the project unlocks carbon finance opportunities by generating carbon credits through biochar use.
How the project contributes to improving the (economic) situation of girls and women
The biochar production unit will be part of a Zero Waste Facility, which upcycles all parts of the cacao fruit and includes the production of cocoa juice. The juice production site is designed as a women-centred business model, where women will be engaged as collectors, processors, and marketers of cocoa juice.
This approach aims to challenge traditional gender roles in cocoa farming, where women are often seen as ‘helpers’ on their husbands’ farms and receive no financial compensation for their work. While cocoa farming remains a male-dominated field, the distribution of biochar-based green fertiliser represents an opportunity to involve women in off-farm income-generating activities.
How the project ensures the scalability of the sustainable innovations implemented in the cocoa value chain
The project aims to build a replicable model for industrial biochar production that can strengthen sustainable cocoa supply chains across producing regions. The project tests the model’s potential, assesses its impact, and lays the foundation for future investment and scale-up. Insights into biochar’s benefits for farming will support the development and commercialisation of new fertiliser blends.
At the same time, the project is building a transparent carbon monetisation framework to measure and value emissions reductions, helping the cocoa sector access climate finance and move toward insetting. Over time, low-carbon biochar-powered cocoa can set a new industry standard.
Organisations involved
