Guest Blog Post by Jason Aramburu, founder of re:char, based in Western Kenya
Earth’s population is growing exponentially towards 9 billion people by 2050.
While our carbon emissions increase daily, our ability to grow our own food does not. The FAO estimates that 925 million people don’t have enough food to eat, and it’s only getting worse.
As a soil scientist, social entrepreneur and founder of re:char, I’ve sought to develop and promote innovative solutions to these very interconnected issues: climate change and food production. Biochar is one of the few cost-effective solutions that can actually make a dent in both.
Biochar is charcoal made from waste. When added to soils it acts like a magnet for nutrients, water and microorganisms—boosting crop yield up to 200%. Biochar is also cited in the journal Nature as having the potential to offset up to 12% of human CO2 emissions. For the past year, my company has been helping smallholder farmers in Kenya to make and utilize biochar to increase their income and help fight climate change.
Now, we are bringing this technology to the first world with a new product called Black Revolution.
Black Revolution is the world’s first carbon-negative replacement for potting soil. It comes pre-loaded with nutrients and biochar and can be used to grow food right away—gardeners can even plant seeds directly in the bag. Unlike other potting soils, Black Revolution actually offsets carbon instead of emitting it. We’re very excited about this product, and have just launched a presale campaign on kickstarter.
We’d love for you to participate in the first rollout of Black Revolution, and hope you will consider pre-ordering a bag today!