Carbon Standards International (CSI) and the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) are excited to announce a new partnership aimed at enhancing standards and certifications for the expanding 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 industry. This collaboration will see the merging of the IBI Biochar Standard, the first material standard in the industry, with CSI’s World Biochar Certificate.

Under the guidance of Dr. Johannes Lehmann, a leading biochar researcher and IBI Founding Member from Cornell University, an expert group will oversee future developments of the standard, incorporating key elements from the legacy IBI Standard.

To support this initiative, IBI will create a comprehensive suite of educational materials to aid CSI certification applicants. These resources will include online courses covering all of CSI’s certifications, such as the World Biochar Certificate and the Global Artisan C-Sink, ensuring applicants are well-prepared for certification and recertification processes.

IBI Board Chair, Lucia Brusegan, emphasizes the importance of this partnership, stating, “As the biochar industry scales, IBI continues to work to support it with partnerships that create confidence in biochar systems. Merging IBI’s legacy standard with the World Biochar Certificate, and creating new education programs to support the companies seeking certification, creates new value for the entire biochar ecosystem, from producer to buyer.”

IBI members will benefit from discounts on these educational programs, which are expected to launch later in 2024. Additional benefits for members will be announced in the coming months.

CSI CEO, Ueli Steiner, highlights the rapid global development of biochar production, stating, “In this partnership with IBI we want to offer modern standards and supporting services for the biochar industry, but also for all producers worldwide.”

As part of this transition, the IBI Certification program will be retired. More information can be found on the IBI and CSI websites.

READ MORE: Driving Confidence in Biochar: IBI and CSI Merge Standards for Industry Growth