Since its launch in March 2024, the biochar initiative under the P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) partnership has made significant progress in promoting sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation in Indonesia. This project is a collaboration between WasteX, Yayasan Bina Tani Sejahtera (YBTS), and Yayasan Agathis Dammara Karbon (Adakarbon).

Funded by P4G, the initiative transforms agricultural and livestock waste—such as corn cobs and rice husks—into biochar, a carbon-rich material that enhances soil structure, improves water and nutrient retention, and contributes to long-term carbon storage. The project has successfully produced 90.19 tons of biochar as of June 2025, with 53 tons applied directly to farmland by 196 farmers across multiple regions.

The pyrolysis technology developed by WasteX is tailored for Southeast Asian farming contexts. It is smokeless, energy-efficient, and capable of processing feedstock such as rice husk that doesn’t require pre-drying—making it especially useful during Indonesia’s rainy season.

Throughout the project, 411 farmers have received hands-on training, while more than 500 additional farmers have been reached through outreach activities, both online and in-person. Adakarbon has led the development of farmer training curricula and materials, while YBTS has overseen demo plot management, field coordination, and data collection.

The partnership has already published a white paper outlining the environmental and economic benefits of biochar in Indonesia, including its climate impact and policy recommendations. In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, these findings were shared at a national forum, resulting in commitments from government stakeholders to further support the adoption of biochar.

Another white paper is scheduled for publication in December 2025, further building on field experience, farmer feedback, and regulatory engagement to strengthen the policy ecosystem for biochar adoption.

WasteX has also been officially recognized as a C-Sink Manager under the Global Artisan C-Sink standard by Carbon Standards International for over a year, enabling the certification of farms and facilitation of carbon credits through verified carbon sequestration practices.

To meet growing demand from farmer groups, the partnership is preparing to open a new biochar facility in Bojonegoro, expanding access to this low-emission technology and reinforcing its commitment to agricultural innovation.

The P4G biochar project stands as a compelling example of how low-carbon technologies can be meaningfully integrated into rural farming systems—supporting food security, reducing emissions, and restoring degraded soils through inclusive and scalable solutions.