Source: Nature Africa, Sept. 2025
This ancient soil improver holds great promise for harvests, provided the right policies and investments are put in place, and farmers are made aware of the issue. Africa is facing the growing consequences of climate change, with worsening aridity and soil deterioration, lower agricultural yields and food insecurity. However, a powerful but under-utilized solution lies in the continent’s organic waste streams. Biochar, a carbon-rich substance produced by the thermal treatment of biomass in oxygen-poor environments, can restore damaged soils, capture atmospheric carbon dioxide and improve agricultural productivity. As climate change intensifies, biochar offers a triple benefit: it restores degraded soils, sequesters carbon and transforms organic waste into wealth. Emerging biochar initiatives in South Africa serve as a model for wider adoption across the continent, but scaling up this innovation requires urgent political support, comprehensive farmer training and increased investment.
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