At Biochar Earth, honesty is of utmost importance to us. Our commitment to verification is unwavering, and it forms the bedrock of our service to carbon credit buyers and the wider public who benefit from our carbon removal initiatives. Our verification process strikes a harmonious balance between adhering to The Global Artisan C-Sink Standard, the logistical considerations of working in rural areas around the world, and ensuring transparency in all our endeavors.
Get ready to work
We initiate the verification process by working with trained farmers. These individuals are well-versed in the proper production and application of biochar. Training sessions and certificates for farmers are meticulously recorded within our tracking and reporting system, which is linked to their profiles.
Onsite and Remote Control
Farmers typically produce approximately 6 to 9 tonnes of biochar per year. We conduct a minimum of two site visits for each farmer. The first visit occurs during the biochar production, and the second visit takes place when the biochar is being applied in their field(s). However, if a farmer significantly increases their biochar production, we may schedule additional visits, ranging from 4 to 6 visits in total.
During these visits, our verifier captures multiple pictures, collects data, and records location information throughout the entire production and application process. This information includes biomass measurement to verify its waste biomass nature, monitoring of the pyrolysis process to ensure a clean burn, and recording the quantity of biochar produced. Additionally, our verifier collaborates with the local Country Manager to ensure farmers are fairly compensated for their efforts. All payment details are securely documented in our tracking system.
We maintain standardized volume measurement methods, typically employing a 20-liter bucket and standard-sized bags to determine the quantity of biochar, eliminating the need for moisture content measurements. Comprehensive photographic documentation is also collected, including images of full biochar bags.
Centralized Certification Team:
All data provided by verifiers undergoes thorough review by a central certification team in order to enhance control and accuracy in the verification process. Composed of biochar specialists knowledgeable about the standard, this team guarantees data accuracy and the clarity of images. Any data found to have quality or accuracy issues is rejected, prompting verifiers to collaborate with farmers and Province Managers to resubmit a new biochar activity record.
Audits and Samples
Random audits of farmers’ production and application activities are conducted by our team. For example, temperature recordings during the pyrolysis process are verified to ensure they adhere to the necessary criteria. Additionally, C-sink farmers are audited annually by Ceres, CSI-accredited auditors. Farmers' biochar is sampled regularly to ensure that the H/C ratios and carbon content are within acceptable ranges.
Qualified and Transparent
Our Verifiers and Trainers
Our verifiers often begin their journey as biochar trainers, ensuring they possess knowledge about biochar production and application using locally accessible feedstocks. Additionally, they receive instruction on how to record activities compliant with the EBC Artisan standard using a mobile application and a methodology. While verifiers are independent of the farmers, they are active members of the local community, providing a deep understanding of local dynamics, farmer site locations, available feedstocks, and village leadership.
Our Reports
Our dMRV portal is accessible to all purchasers of our credits, allowing purchasers to view comprehensive activity records for the C-sink credit. Furthermore, our data is submitted to CSI for registration in the public registry, ensuring complete transparency.