We turn crop residue that would otherwise be burned into biochar, a stable, soil-enriching carbon that raises yields for farmers and stores carbon in the ground for centuries. We start small, prove it in the field, and grow one village at a time.
IndoChar began with a simple observation: across Indonesia, mountains of leftover biomass are burned every harvest, polluting the air and wasting a resource that could be healing the land instead.
We’re a group of high school students who care deeply about the Earth. Our mission is to fight climate change, not with fancy machines, but with smart ideas and a love for nature
In many places, leftover biomass are just burned, which pollutes the air. But we do something different: we turn them into Biochar. This “black gold” is a powerful, natural material that helps the soil and the planet. It doesn’t just cut emissions. It goes back into the soil, helps farmers grow better crops, improves the soil, and stores carbon underground for years. It’s part of something called the circular economy, where nothing goes to waste and everything has a purpose. Better for farmers, better for the Earth, and better for all of us.
Following the completion of our pilot trial in Lampung, Indonesia, which demonstrated the feasibility of producing biochar from agricultural residues, we are now expanding the initiative to other villages. As the first step in this scale-up, we have launched our community-based biochar project in Desa Kepayang, South Sumatra, Indonesia in July 2026.
IndoChar is built and run by students, young people turning concern for the planet into fieldwork, one village at a time.
“Real change starts with one step, one village, one handful of biochar at a time.”
While he lives in Jakarta, his parents are originally from Lampung. Each time he visits Lampung, he sees something that bothers him: hardworking farmers doing their best with very limited resources, often struggling to get enough fertilizer just to grow their crops.
During his internship with Forest Carbon in June 2025, he also got the chance to visit remote villages in South Sumatera where he encountered similar challenges: poor farming communities, leftover plant waste (biomass) being burned and polluting the air, and limited infrastructure making access even more difficult.
Seeing all this has sparked something in him and got him thinking: What if there is a better way? What if I can help, even just a little?
That’s when he discovered biochar,a natural solution that turns farm waste into something useful for the soil. Inspired by the idea of a circular economy, David is now starting small: experimenting with simple tools, learning by doing, hoping to make a difference (even if it’s small) and dreaming of helping farmers improve their land while fighting climate change.
He may be young, but David believes real change starts with one step, one village, one handful of biochar at a time.
“Helping people and the planet was never two goals to me — it's one.”
She loves sports, cares deeply about the environment and someone who really doesn’t like plastic. (Just ask her parents, she’s the reason reusable bags are always in the car!)
From an early age, Aranya has always been passionate about protecting nature, keeping the planet clean and green. Whether it’s joining clean-up days or reminding people to turn off the lights, she always tries to do her part.
But what truly excites her is the chance to help both people and the planet at the same time. During a community study week organized by her school, she had the opportunity to visit small farms. She loved walking through the rice fields and feeding the animals, but what left the biggest impression on her was listening to the farmers’ stories, and understanding the challenges they face every day, learning how they grow their crops with limited resources. Since then, she’s always hoped to be part of something meaningful that can really help them. Now, together with her friend David, Aranya is a team member of IndoChar,a fun, meaningful project that turns farm waste into biochar. It’s small-scale, meaningful, and full of hope. Just like her.
“The best climate tech is the simplest thing that actually changes a farmer's day.”
From a young age, he has always been fascinated by how science can be used to solve real-world problems from improving daily life to addressing global environmental challenges. His curiosity often drives him to explore how simple innovations can make a big difference in creating a more sustainable world.
Through IndoChar, Rafael has the opportunity to apply his curiosity beyond the classroom. He learns how agricultural waste can be transformed into biochar, a technology that not only improves soil health but also supports farmers and reduces carbon emissions. Working with a team of like-minded students inspires him to think critically about how youth can take part in climate action and shape a better future for Indonesia
We track every site so our impact is real, not rhetorical. Here's where things stand today, and every one of these numbers is set to grow.
To turn farm waste into something good: helping farmers, healing soil, and removing carbon.
Each one is measurable, and each one has to hold up in the field before it counts.
ProductionTurn farm waste into biochar using easy, affordable tools.
FarmersHelp farmers improve their soil, crops, and income.
CarbonStore carbon underground and earn carbon credits to reinvest in impact.
CircularityShow that a circular economy works, even on a small scale.
ScaleStart small and grow one village, one farm at a time.
IndoChar is mentored by experienced practitioners who help us build with integrity - from field methodology to carbon markets and the path to credible carbon finance.
Jeffrey is CEO and co-founder of Forest Carbon, an Indonesian environmental-asset company founded in 2010 and today one of the country's leading nature-based carbon project developers. He brings more than a decade of experience building high-integrity carbon projects and supporting local communities.
Joel is the founder of Eliot & Luther, a Singapore-based strategic advisory firm, and a lawyer qualified in New York and England & Wales. He brings extensive cross-border transaction and carbon-finance experience to IndoChar's development.
Big goals keep us honest. As we scale from pilots to a national network of farmer-led biochar production, this is what we're working toward.
of Indonesian farmland improved with biochar
of durable CO₂ removal generated and verified
empowered through sustainable income and carbon solutions
Agricultural residue, including husks, stalks and pruning leftovers after harvesting, is gathered instead of burned.
A low-cost flame-cap kiln converts biomass under limited oxygen, generates minimal smoke and requires no electricity.
The result is a stable, porous carbon - “black gold” - that holds water and nutrients.
Biochar is applied to the field to improve the soil, support crops and keep carbon in the ground for a long period.
Think of biochar as a kind of “black gold” for the Earth.
It’s made from farm leftovers, like coconut shells, rice husks, or corn stalks, that would normally be thrown away or burned. Instead of burning them (which causes air pollution), we heat them in a special way without oxygen. This turns the waste into a rich, black charcoal that’s amazing for soil. That’s biochar!
Instead of burning these waste materials, we heat them without oxygen, and turn them into a kind of rich black charcoal that improves soil, helps retain water, and stores carbon underground for hundreds of years.
It’s a simple, low-cost solution with a big impact. It helps farmers grow more and grow better while healing the Earth.
We’d rather show than tell.
Following the completion of our pilot trial in Lampung, Indonesia, which demonstrated the feasibility of producing biochar from agricultural residues, we are now expanding the initiative to other villages. We have launched our community-based biochar project in Desa Kepayang, South Sumatra, Indonesia in July 2026.
Working with the Kepayang village community in South Sumatra to turn crop and wood residue into biochar using the Kon-Tiki method.
Our first trial and proof of concept for making biochar at 4-5 Oct 2025.
We provide Kon Tiki kiln for village, provide the training to the local villagers to produce the biochar and do monitoring system so they can produce biochar by themselves.
“Dulu jerami dan ranting kami bakar begitu saja. Sekarang kami ubah jadi biochar, dan tanah di kebun terasa lebih gembur. Panen padi musim ini paling baik dalam beberapa tahun.”
We used to just burn the straw and branches. Now we turn them into biochar, and the soil feels softer. This season's rice harvest is the best we've had in years.
“Awalnya saya ragu, tapi setelah mencoba biochar di lahan jagung, tanaman lebih tahan saat kering. Saya juga senang tidak ada lagi asap pembakaran di dekat rumah.”
At first I was doubtful, but after trying biochar on the maize plot, the plants held up better in the dry spell. And there's no more burning smoke near the house.
“Biochar membantu air bertahan lebih lama di petak sawah kami. Bagi kami petani subak, tanah yang sehat adalah warisan untuk anak cucu.”
Biochar helps the water stay longer in our paddy terraces. For us subak farmers, healthy soil is an inheritance for our grandchildren.
“Sejak memakai biochar, sayuran saya tumbuh lebih subur dan saya mengurangi pupuk kimia. Pengeluaran turun, hasil naik.”
Since using biochar, my vegetables grow more lushly and I've cut back on chemical fertiliser. Costs down, yield up — that's what I feel most.
“Anak-anak muda IndoChar datang dan mengajari kami cara membuat biochar dengan tungku sederhana. Sekarang limbah panen jadi berguna, bukan lagi masalah.”
The young people from IndoChar came and taught us to make biochar with a simple kiln. Now harvest waste is useful — no longer a problem.
“Tandan kosong sawit yang biasanya menumpuk kini kami olah jadi biochar. Kebun terlihat lebih rapi dan tanah di sekitar pohon lebih hitam dan subur.”
The empty palm fruit bunches that used to pile up, we now turn into biochar. The plot looks tidier and the soil around the trees is darker and richer.
“Di tempat kami tanah kering dan keras. Biochar membuat tanah menahan sedikit lebih banyak air, dan bibit jagung tumbuh lebih merata. Ini harapan baru bagi lahan kami.”
Where we live the soil is dry and hard. Biochar makes it hold a little more water, and the maize seedlings grow more evenly. This is new hope for our land.
Media coverage on how a group of high-school students turned agricultural waste into a climate solution.
Read article →
Wrapping up our first production run and capturing what worked, what didn't, and what's next.
Read update →
Our first day converting wood waste into biochar in the field, the process, step by step.
Read update →IndoChar grows through partnership. Whichever role fits you, there's a place in the journey, and we're always looking for more.
Have unused crop or wood residue? Supply the biomass and we'll turn it into biochar together.
Back an early project with seed funding and help us scale biochar to more communities.
Commit to offtake the high-quality carbon credits and biochar our projects generate.
Work with us on field trials, soil performance, carbon measurement and practical research that strengthens farmer-led biochar projects.
Whether you're a farmers' community or co-operative, an institution interested in buying carbon credits, an angel investor or a researcher, we'd love to talk. Small starts are how big change gets real.