STiR coffee and tea magazine

24 STiR coffee and tea | 2024 Issue 6 (December / January 2025) Trials with aerobic composters using pulp and biochar at the Cotierra facility in Pitalito, Huila, Colombia. Photo courtesy Lorenz Buser ing much of its carbon content. Once applied to soil, biochar remains stable for hundreds to thousands of years, significantly enhancing its potential for generating carbon credits. In this way, biochar transcends its role as an agricultural amendment, repre- senting a climate-conscious approach to farming. In the coffee industry, where biochar's benefits are just beginning to be explored, it stands out as a tool capa- ble of fostering a more resilient, self-sustaining value chain. As the understand- ing of biochar expands, its promise grows as a keystone in the global effort to develop agriculture that not only feeds the world but sustains it. According to Lorenz Buzer, CEO of the Swiss-Colombian company Coti- erra, which specializes in biochar projects, utilizing biochar can "help produc- ers transition to regenerative agriculture, improve their soils, margins, and resilience while reducing the carbon footprint." Biochar Case Studies Across Latin America Latin America is emerging as a vibrant hub for biochar initiatives, especially in the coffee sector, where innovative projects are harnessing local resources to promote sustainable practices. This section highlights some key case stud- ies from Latin America, emphasizing their global significance and the role of partnerships. Research in Brazil for Nespresso Murilo Bettarello notes that two prominent biochar projects are pioneer- ing sustainable coffee farming in Brazil. The first initiative, a collaboration between NetZero—a centralized biochar production company—and major coffee trading firms in Espírito Santo, aims to produce an impressive 15,000 tons of biochar annually. The second project, in which Murilo is actively involved, is in partner- ship with Nespresso. This initiative focuses on agronomic trials across several coffee farms to evaluate biochar's potential for soil regeneration and coffee yield improvements. Currently, they use approximately 100 tons of biochar to experiment with various biochar mix ratios and application rates across coffee plants of different ages. This approach aims to measure and assess biochar's impact on plant growth and coffee production and to gather evidence about biochar's effect on climate change adaptation in Brazil. Although Nespresso's commitment to advancing regenerative practices in Brazilian coffee farms is evident, the use of biochar in Brazilian coffee planta- tions is relatively new, and they are still developing the business. From Muri- lo's perspective, the important step for implementing biochar technology will be that companies buy the carbon in advance so farmers can afford to invest. But before raising any hopes, he says, "There's a lot of homework to do." Carbon Trace's MRV Efforts in Mexico In Mexico, a startup called Carbon Trace pio- neered the Measurement, Reporting, and Verifica- tion (MRV) process for biochar by introducing a boots-on-the-ground approach to reducing air pol- lution caused by burning maize residues in Guana- juato. CEO Mari Carmen Mejia explains that this initiative not only improved air quality but also promised significant carbon offset benefits. However, this project faced many challenges, particularly in securing sustainable financing and establishing a reliable biomass supply. She high- lighted that the collaboration between biomass suppliers and biochar producers is critical to en- sure high-quality biochar suitable for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). Mejia emphasizes the importance of developing a robust workflow, as the success of these initiatives relies on effective monitoring and verification over the long term. Cotierra's Decentralized Model in Colombia In Colombia, Cotierra exemplifies a decentral- ized approach to biochar production that sup- ports farmers in transitioning to regenerative prac- tices. According to co-founder Lorenz Buzer, this Swiss-Colombian company currently collaborates with around 100 farms, using mobile pyrolysis re- actors for on-site biochar production. Its goal is to offset 3,000 tons of carbon by 2025. Cotierra aims not only to make a positive im- pact through biochar production but also to pio- neer new business models and advance technology research and development in biochar production. A team of five mechanical engineers is currently focused on developing reactors and digital tools to control key variables in the biochar production process. In addition to technological challenges, they also face difficulties that include the logistical complexities of transporting biomass in rural set- tings, the weather, and the health of farm workers and smallholders. Agronomist and regenerative agriculture advisor Murilo Bettarello for the Nespresso AAA biochar trials project in Brazil inspects the quality of biochar application in the field.

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