Kenyan Biochar Project Wins First EU Carbon Standard Nod

Tera workers inspect plots where biochar-blended fertilizer is applied to boost soil health and trap carbon.

In June 2025, Kenyan climate-tech firm Tera became the first African project developer to have its carbon removal initiative independently validated and registered under Riverse, a European standard for engineered climate solutions.

The validation confirms that Tera’s project design and digital monitoring framework meet Riverse’s strict scientific criteria—making it eligible to issue carbon credits once verified.

The project is now listed on Riverse’s public-facing Rainbow Registry, which provides transparent documentation of validated projects and will track credits through issuance and retirement.

Tera collects bagasse—the dry, fibrous material left after sugarcane is crushed—from mills around Kisumu, Kenya’s third-largest city in the Lake Victoria basin, known for its sugarcane farms and factories.

At its pilot facility, the sugarcane waste is fed into a pyrolysis unit, a specialized machine that heats the material without oxygen to produce biochar, a porous, carbon-rich substance.

When applied to soil, biochar helps retain water and nutrients, boosting crop health while locking carbon in place, preventing it from returning to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO₂), according to Dr. Eng. Erick Kiplangat Ronoh of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

“Unlike ordinary plant waste that decomposes and releases carbon, biochar stabilizes it in a form that can remain in soils for extended periods,” Ronoh said.

Biochar is often described as turning agricultural residues into a ‘sponge’ that improves water retention, soil fertility, and long-term carbon storage.

Tera blends biochar into organic fertilizer sold to farmers across the region, aiming to improve harvests and restore degraded soils while creating the basis for carbon credit generation.

“We are bringing the soil back to life,” said Rob Palmer, Tera’s CEO. “Biochar improves yields, reduces dependence on inorganic fertilizers, and boosts drought resilience. But for us to scale up, we needed to prove the science—which is what validation under Riverse provides.”

Palmer described the validation as “a crucial step,” enabled by Tera’s tracking system, which monitors every stage from bagasse collection to biochar application.

To ensure carbon savings are measurable and verifiable, Tera partnered with Kenyan firm CYNK, which builds digital systems for environmental data tracking, to design a custom Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system that documents carbon removal data at every stage.

CYNK’s system uses IoT sensors and real-time dashboards to create an auditable, tamper-resistant record of the entire process—from weighing biomass to monitoring pyrolysis temperatures and mapping where biochar is applied.

“That level of detail is essential for full traceability,” said Kelvin Gitahi, CYNK’s head of technology.

Gitahi explained that traditional carbon credit systems relied on paperwork, making auditing difficult. “Registries typically want evidence of what you produced and where it was applied. Historically, it meant assembling files manually. That lack of automation made trust hard to build.”

CYNK’s automated system converts sensor data into quantifiable carbon removal estimates, minimizing human error and enabling independent audits. “It’s designed to be tamper-proof,” Gitahi said. “From the weighbridge to the exact kilos of biochar applied, everything is logged automatically.”

Such rigorous monitoring is essential under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which requires transparent, robust MRV to prevent double-counting in international carbon markets.

Riverse, one of 13 global standards endorsed by ICROA, said Tera is the first project it has certified that can scientifically demonstrate its biochar will keep carbon stable for many years.

“Tera had to meet twelve criteria,” said Samara Vantil, Riverse’s certification operations lead. “That included demonstrating full traceability, using only waste biomass, and proving the project was financially additional.”

Each year, over 20 data points are reviewed to confirm ongoing compliance. Validation under Riverse generally takes two to three months, with projects subject to annual audits for at least five years.

Riverse also publishes project-level data publicly, from feedstock sourcing to credit issuance, addressing transparency concerns in voluntary carbon markets where companies buy credits to offset emissions.

Such scrutiny is vital as Europe seeks more carbon removals from Africa. A recent EU proposal could allow member states to use “high-quality international credits” from the mid-2030s, potentially boosting demand for rigorously verified projects like Tera’s.

“Kenya is an emerging hotspot for carbon removal in Africa,” said Ludovic Chatoux, Riverse’s CEO. “Its renewable energy, reliable feedstock, and supportive policies make it attractive for engineered removals.”

Kenya’s policy framework includes a Carbon Credit Trading and Benefit Sharing Bill and the Climate Change (Carbon Markets) Regulations, 2024, detailing registration, certification, and the creation of a National Carbon Registry.

Riverse is also assessing projects in Nigeria and Ghana. Chatoux said the aim is to channel financing into projects that demonstrably remove CO₂ and avoid greenwashing.

Engineered carbon removal credits like biochar or direct air capture fetch significantly higher prices than nature-based offsets. In 2024, engineered removals averaged USD 320 per tonne, while biochar traded at roughly USD 140 by mid-2025. In contrast, forestry credits typically fetched USD 8 to USD 15.

Dr. Ronoh explained that this price gap reflects the durability of engineered removals. Unlike trees, which can lose stored carbon to fires or pests, biochar locks carbon in soils for hundreds or thousands of years.

Still, he cautioned that biochar benefits depend on quality controls and sustainable production. “If biomass is contaminated, it can introduce toxins into the soil. Overuse or improper production can harm soil health,” he said.

Globally, CO₂ levels remain over 50% above pre-industrial levels, driving calls for carbon removal to complement emissions cuts. Carbon removal is now recognized as essential alongside reductions, especially in hard-to-decarbonize sectors.

In Kenya, agricultural carbon removal strategies are gaining momentum. Peter Wachira of Vi Agroforestry said techniques like composting and waste recycling help sequester carbon, improve food security, and raise incomes.

However, he stressed that carbon credit schemes must prioritize farmers’ livelihoods. “Communities here are paying the price for a crisis they didn’t create,” he said.

Kenya’s carbon market debate has shifted from resistance to ensuring transparency, robust credit verification, and equitable benefit-sharing.

“Kenya is offering what the global market needs,” said Gitahi. “Our digital transparency shows local capacity and community willingness to engage.”

Tera now aims to scale its model across Africa. “There’s not a rulebook for America and a different rulebook for Africa,” said Palmer. “We’ve proven African projects can meet global standards. Now, we need the capital to scale.”