Desk-based studies are useful. They structure thinking, align stakeholders, and, without them, there is no serious conversation with investors or certifiers. But lately I keep thinking about a gap between such studies and industrial production. There is a learning phase in the middle that many projects skip. And the operational surprises don’t disappear. Unless you are an experienced operator with THAT feedstockFeedstock refers to the raw organic material used to produce biochar. This can include a wide range of materials, such as wood chips, agricultural residues, and animal manure. More, many challenges will wait for you until the plant is running. And learning about them at that point can turn expensive.

Not that long ago, I learned about a beautiful project in Colombia. Big vision, industrial 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 production on the horizon. But my first thought was not about the plant. It was: where is the learning phase? Maybe starting small, artisanal, Kon-Tiki style is the best move.
Why?

Because a small kiln can answer many questions no PDF can:
– How does this specific feedstock behave when you pyrolyze it?
– What does the biochar actually do in this soil, with this rain, with these farmers?
– What would someone pay for the benefits it brings?

Because if it does not make economic sense for the farmer, the rest is theory. People need to eat before they can think about carbon. The thing is, industrial biochar is where I have experience. Artisanal is not my world. So I did my homework, and these are the hypotheses I landed on:

1. Artisanal biochar can reach certifiable quality. Data shows H/C ratios well below the thresholds (like EBC from Carbon Standards).
2. Emissions are the real question mark. Methane can go up fast when the feedstock is wet. Below 15% moisture is recommended.
3. Which brings an interesting paradox: if drying is part of the answer, where does the drying energy come from? A Kon-Tiki gives away all its heat and you need that heat!?
4. The field data will have the final word. What the biochar really does there, we will only know by testing. But how long does it take to see results?

If you have produced artisanal biochar, your lessons are worth more than any paper I can read. What would you tell someone starting?