Cocoa biochar: A triple impact solution
This project co-develops farmer-ready pyrolysis systems for cocoa-based biochar, thereby improving soils, agricultural yield and enabling the insetting of certified carbon credits.
Factsheet
- Schools involved School of Engineering and Computer Science
- Institute(s) Institute for Data Applications and Security (IDAS)
- Research unit(s) IDAS / Management Science, Innovation, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship (MSIE)
- Strategic thematic field Thematic field "Sustainable Development"
- Funding organisation BFH
- Duration (planned) 01.01.2026 - 31.12.2026
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Maria Franco Mosquera
Situation
Cocoa production generates up to 96% of the chocolate industry’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Converting cocoa pod husks (i.e., the outer part of the cocoa fruit, characterized by its rough, oval-shaped, and moderately thick structure) into biochar provides a scalable circular-economy solution. Cocoa pod biochar, produced from organic waste through an oxygen-limited burning process known as pyrolysis, can enhance soil fertility and water retention, reduce agricultural input costs, and sequester stable carbon for centuries. Our project aims to: (1) develop alternative farmer-adapted pyrolysis systems for decentralized use in cocoa farms, (2) quantify biochar’s capacity to immobilize cadmium (Cd) and mitigate crop disease, and (3) establish robust, field-tested carbon-credit methodologies consistent with international MRV (i.e., Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) standards, enabling verified Scope 3 GHG emission reductions for chocolate manufacturers.
