Strengthening Biochar Training in Lam Dong: Integrating Carbon Market Pathways for Smallholder Farmers in Vietnam
Lam Dong, Vietnam – With support from the Mekong Institute and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, ESG Education & Business and the Mekong Biochar Initiative have successfully implemented a pioneering project to strengthen biochar training and integrate carbon market pathways for smallholder farmers in Lam Dong province.
Running from April to July 2026, the initiative aimed to bridge a long-standing gap in Vietnam’s agricultural sector by translating sustainable biochar technologies into practical, financially viable solutions for farmers. The project demonstrated a scalable biochar–carbon market model that improves smallholder livelihoods while generating high-quality carbon removal credits. It integrated regenerative agriculture, carbon finance, and digital Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) into one cohesive ecosystem.
Key Outcomes
- Enhanced Technical Capacity: Farmers and local partners received hands-on training in biochar production, application techniques, biomass utilization, and carbon project implementation, significantly strengthening local technical capabilities.
- Increased Awareness of Climate Finance: Participants gained a clearer understanding of carbon markets, carbon removal credits, and how biochar can unlock new income streams through climate finance mechanisms.
- Stronger Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: The project fostered effective partnerships among farmers, local authorities, technical experts, private companies, and international partners to co-develop an integrated biochar value chain.
- Alumni-Led Action: Programme alumni turned knowledge into practice by initiating Vietnam’s first pilot linking biochar production with carbon market mechanisms and smallholder agriculture.
Project Milestones
More than 20 households were equipped with small-scale biochar stoves, enabling them to convert agricultural residues into valuable soil inputs directly on their farms. Early observations indicate a shift away from open burning toward circular biomass use.
Approximately 30 smallholder farmers, primarily engaged in coffee and vegetable farming, participated in a combination of classroom instruction and field-based demonstrations. Training covered biochar production, soil application methods, and the fundamentals of carbon markets, including monitoring and verification requirements.
Alumni-Led Accomplishments
- 2 project locations established in Lam Dong
- 3 practical technologies improved
- 20+ research articles on climate and soil quality
- 2 direct training programmes delivered
This initiative demonstrates how innovative climate solutions can simultaneously improve soil health, reduce emissions, and create sustainable income opportunities for farming communities.
About the Partners
The project was led by ESG Education & Business and the Mekong Biochar Initiative, with support from the Mekong Institute and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
For more information, please visit: mekongbiochar.com
Media Contact
Mekong Biochar Initiative
Email: office@mekongbiochar.com
ESG Education & Business
Email: inquiry@esg.edu.vn
