The BiocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More Centre of Excellence promoting Rural Livelihood, at Kanha Shanti Vanam, Telangana, India, has been officially inaugurated in a significant stride towards global agricultural sustainability. This pioneering initiative, spearheaded by the Heartfulness Institute and inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari ji, represents a comprehensive model for fostering rural entrepreneurship, empowering communities, and championing regenerative land practices. As Science Editor for Biochar Today, I had the privilege of interviewing Sriram Raghavendran, Head of the Agri Centre of Excellence for Heartulness Institute and Head of Innovation for Samunnati, a key architect of its vision, whose journey epitomizes the transformative power of dedication.

The Kanha Shanti Vanam Centre of Excellence is a pioneering initiative that sets new benchmarks for the industry. Its invaluable lessons and scalable framework for sustainable development offer a model for diverse global contexts. This is a prime example of the kind of work that is illuminating the path for others in the field.

From Tech Innovation to Soil Regeneration: Sriram Raghavendran’s Purpose-Driven Path

The path of Sriram Raghavendran to becoming a leading voice in biochar is evidence of the powerful convergence of diverse expertise and a profound commitment to environmental restoration. With a distinguished career spanning 25 years in the international tech sector, including senior roles in Fortune 500 companies, Raghavendran’s transition into agricultural innovation is both unexpected and inspiring. “I’ve come from a management background in the tech sector,” Raghavendran shared, reflecting on his journey. His current role heading innovation at Samunnati, a major agri-ecosystem company in India, synergizes powerfully with his role as the Director, Heartfulness Institute. This unique vantage point allowed him to observe firsthand the profound ecological changes at Kanha Shanti Vanam.

“Out of that all, the one initiative which came at the top of the stack because of its very high potential was biochar,” he affirmed. For the past eighteen months, his focus has been singular, driven by an almost singular dedication. “My team and I… eat biochar, we drink biochar, we sleep biochar,” he stated, illustrating the immersive commitment to this cause. Despite his comparatively recent entry, this profound absorption in the subject underscores the depth of his conviction and the efficiency with which the Center is advancing.

Kanha Shanti Vanam :A Living Proof of Concept

The narrative of the Biochar Centre of Excellence is deeply rooted in the remarkable ecological transformation of Kanha Shanti Vanam itself. With the vision and guidance of Daaji, Global guide and founder of Heartfulness Institute, the 1,500-acre land plagued by a critically low water table (initially 1,200 feet below ground) and severely degraded soil, it has been meticulously rehabilitated into a verdant oasis. What was a barren land about 8 years back, with just about 200 trees spotting the landscape, has 150,000+ mature trees.

“We have extensively employed biochar to transform the soils, to improve soil health, to improve water retention capability, and to improve soil quality,” Raghavendran explained. He highlighted that every one planted on the campus since 2017 has incorporated biochar at its root zone. The rain water harvesting structures, using biochar to purify the water before it recharges the acquifers has seen the water table rise dramatically to about 300 feet below ground in a mere six to seven years. Such a rapid and significant hydrological recovery, alongside thriving agricultural returns on campus and in the surrounding 50 villages, serves as a compelling, large-scale demonstration of biochar’s tangible benefits.

Forest by Heartfulness and National Regeneration : A Scaling Impact

The profound success observed at Kanha Shanti Vanam spurred a larger national movement. The Heartfulness Institute’s environmental arm, Forest by Heartfulness, has been actively engaged by various state forest departments across India to replicate this restoration model. What began as a pilot in Madhya Pradesh has rapidly expanded to 40 forestation projects encompassing over 10,000 acres.

“Today we’re running 40 afforestation projects across India aggregating about 10,000 acres, probably planted about 2 million saplings so far, and I’m happy to share that every one of those 2 million saplings have been planted with biochar,” Raghavendran shared. This extensive application of biochar has contributed to an impressive 85-90% sapling survival rate, significantly higher than conventional reforestation efforts. With a goal of planting 30 million saplings by 2030, biochar remains integral to Heartfulness’s large-scale environmental goals.

The Biochar Centre of Excellence : A Global Model for Capacity Building

Recognizing biochar’s immense potential in agricultural applications, the Heartfulness Institute pivoted into agricultural biochar initiatives through its sister organization Hearticulture. The new Biochar Centre of Excellence was specifically conceived to address critical challenges in biochar adoption: a pervasive lack of awareness and the absence of standardized, context-specific application practices.

Raghavendran articulated the Center’s multifaceted approach, positioning it as a comprehensive “one-stop shop” designed to:

• Provide Tangible Demonstrations: The centre features dedicated demonstration plots that vividly illustrate the comparative growth of crops with and without biochar. This direct visual evidence is crucial for convincing farmers and policymakers.
• Offer Practical Training: A state-of-the-art training facility can host 50 to 100 farmers and entrepreneurs, providing hands-on instruction in biochar production, processing, and application. This practical skill transfer is vital for localized adoption.
• Advance Scientific Research: Equipped with a soil biology lab, the centre’s agronomists conduct rigorous experiments to understand biochar’s effects across diverse soil types and crops, in partnership with ICAR institutes. This includes investigating its impact on soil toxicity, acidity, and salinity. The goal is to develop scientifically sound, context-specific guidelines for biochar use, addressing a key global research gap. As Raghavendran and I discussed, such empirical data is essential for broader acceptance.
• Streamline Production and Processing: The centre produces high-carbon biochar (typically 75-85% carbon content) using refined artisan methods and includes a processing facility for granulation, amendment, and inoculation.

A critical nuance in their methodology, as Raghavendran emphasized, is the inoculation of biochar with appropriate amendments before soil application. He underscored that “pristine” biochar is not recommended, as its highly porous nature will naturally absorb vital nutrients intended for plants, potentially leading to initial crop setbacks. However, proper amendment and application ensures higher crop returns even in the very first season.

A Vision for Economic Uplift and Global Replication

The goal of the Biochar Centre of Excellence extends beyond environmental benefits to create socio-economic impact at scale. , implementing the Daaji’s vision to establish one biochar rural entrepreneur in every village of India. This strategy aims to regenerate India’s vast agricultural soils and beyond, while fostering economic independence within farming communities, with carbon credits as a crucial financial lever.

Hearticulture has established 20 biochar production sites across India, converting agricultural residue into approximately 2,000 tons of biochar and generating thousands of carbon credits. This model provides a tangible framework for supporting farmers, subsidizing biochar costs, promoting rural entrepreneurship and integrating them into emerging carbon markets.

Collaborating for Global Impact: Biochar Today’s Commitment

The Heartfulness Institute actively engages with both state and central governments, advocating for evidence-based policy derived from their extensive practical work and research findings. While acknowledging that robust policy frameworks will naturally evolve with further scientific validation from institutions like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), their commitment to data-driven advocacy is clear.

In a testament to its growing international prominence, the Kanha Shanti Vanam campus has been selected to host the first-ever IBI (International Biochar Initiative) Academy in India, tentatively scheduled for October 3-11, 2025. This immersive, week-long program will bring together practitioners, researchers, and changemakers from across the globe, further solidifying India’s position as a hub for biochar innovation.

During our conversation, I conveyed Biochar Today’s strong desire to collaborate on amplifying biochar awareness among farmers, research institutions, and governmental bodies worldwide. Mr. Raghavendran enthusiastically accepted this proposition and, in turn, expressed his own keen desire to partner on these efforts. “Biochar is clearly a multi-dimensional product,” he asserted, highlighting its profound impact on crop yields, farmer income, entrepreneurship, and climate change mitigation – a sentiment perfectly aligned with our global outreach efforts.

At Biochar Today, our vision is to illuminate, connect, and champion such exemplary initiatives on the global stage. The Biochar Centre of Excellence at Kanha Shanti Vanam, with its blend of scientific rigor, practical application, and community empowerment, serves as a powerful model for how biochar can drive regenerative agriculture and foster sustainable economic development worldwide. We are committed to highlighting these tangible successes, encouraging international collaboration, and bringing the expertise and dedication to the forefront that will propel the global biochar industry forward. This centre is not just a local success story but a blueprint for a healthier planet.

The unwavering dedication and visionary leadership of Sriram Raghavendran in advancing biochar technology and its applications are truly inspiring, making the Kanha Shanti Vanam Centre a global example for the future of sustainable agriculture.