An important investment in biochar production is set to help cocoa growers restore their soil and combat climate change in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Chocolonely Foundation is collaborating with the BIO4Africa project to help farmers in Côte d’Ivoire relieve the devastating impact of drought on cocoa production. The ambition is to boost yield by improving the soil on the plantations of the Kapatchiva Cooperative.

Located at the heart of Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa-growing region, Kapatchiva has experienced a dramatic decline in cocoa yield following several years with little rainfall. So, when BIO4Africa revealed an untapped opportunity to transform empty cocoa pods into biochar, the cooperative was ready to act.

Field studies by local BIO4Africa partner Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) have shown good results when cocoa pod biochar is used for soil amendment. An effective alternative to chemical fertilisers, the biochar is proven to improve the soil’s water-retaining capacity during drought – benefiting the cocoa harvest.

Bringing the soil to life
Kapatchiva has now partnered with the Chocolonely Foundation, the cocoa sourcing initiative Tony’s Open Chain and INP-HB to construct the first pyrolysis facility so the cocoa producers can start their own biochar production.

“Our soils have become very fragile due to climate change. To make sustainable cocoa and a sustainable cocoa culture, we have to make sure the fields are brought to life,” says Jean Kouassi Kouassi, president of the Kapatchiva survey council.

“If the biochar can allow our fields to retain water so our plants can resist the drought, we think our fields will be preserved and saved.”

Long-term community benefits
The Chocolonely Foundation is financing the construction of the facility and training for the cocoa producers, who will learn how to build the pyrolysis kiln, produce the biochar and use it for soil amendment.

Once the facility is in operation, the target is to produce 18 tonnes of biochar in the first six months and test the impact on seven hectares of plantation. INP-HB will conduct the training and facilitate the trial.

Professor at INP-HB Yao Casimir Brou envisages long-term benefits for the communities of Bonon, west of the Côte d’Ivoire capital of Yamoussoukro.

“By being able to build the pyrolysis kilns and produce biochar themselves, the producers can increase their cocoa yield and their income. That, in turn, will reduce the high level of poverty in the area and support the school education of the children,” he says.

First investment in biochar
Dutch chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely invests 1% of its turnover in the Chocolonely Foundation each year.  The purpose of the foundation is to fund projects that contribute to prosperous and resilient cocoa-growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

Tony’s Open Chain was initiated by Tony’s Chocolonely in 2019 with a mission to end exploitation in the cocoa supply chain.

“This investment in biochar is a first for us,” says Belinda Borck, manager of the Chocolonely Foundation.

“Our main approach is to try something on a small scale and prove it works. We hope this pilot will encourage more similar projects on a bigger scale once it’s proven to be successful.”

Kapatchiva gained this opportunity through participation in the business acceleration programme run by BIO4Africa. An EU-funded project, BIO4Africa is researching and piloting the potential to valorise the agricultural waste products of African smallholder farmers using bio-based technologies.