Varaha - Banni Biochar

Varaha, a carbon project developer empowered by technology, focuses on smallholder economies in the global south. The company passionately advocates for Natural Climate Solutions such as regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, and biochar. Employing an end-to-end approach, Varaha ensures that benefits from their initiatives are distributed equitably among land stewards, nurturing sustainability and climate resilience. Beyond the projects, Varaha maintains an unwavering commitment to excellence in monitoring, reporting, and verification practices. Their unique integration of advanced technologies, including remote sensing and bio-geo-chemical models, establishes a benchmark for unparalleled quality.

Thanks to Klimate and climate champions in developed economies our projects can sequester greenhouse gases and also empower smallholders to increase their resiliency, income, and independence. With their support, we can strengthen food and water security for growing populations in the face of climate change.


Ikarus Janzen
Chief Commercial Officer

In pursuit of its vision, Varaha sees a future where smallholder communities prosper in the face of climate challenges. The company dedicates itself to empowering these communities through inventive Natural Climate Solutions, fostering a sustainable harmony with nature. Varaha aspires to assert itself as a global leader in technology-driven climate action, playing a pivotal role in instigating positive change for communities and the planet at large.

• When mixed into the soil, biochar improves the quality and has a permanence of 100+ years.
• Revenue from credits helps overcome social, financial and technological barriers that previously prevented project implementation such as training programs and access to necessary technology for biochar production.
• The project produces biochar from waste residues of an invasive species (Prosopis Juliflora). This bolsters the project's impact since it removes a threat to local grassland ecosystems and allows for the reintroduction of native species.
• By removing invasive plants and restoring grasslands, local communities can carry out pastoralist livelihoods.
• The project aims to involve and train women to partake in the biochar process as local cultural and religious norms don’t always allow for women to do mainstream work.
• The residues used as feedstock for the biochar production would have otherwise been burnt in open fields leading to large amounts of air pollution.
• When added to soils, biochar improves soil health, reduces the leaching of fertilisers, and improves water retention.
• The project uses an end-to-end monitoring system to monitor its impact through a digital system that uses farmer surveys, remote-sensing, soil samples, and modelling.
• The project does not receive any government subsidies, therefore, the income from carbon credit sales is important to sustaining its operations.

Operating in Rajasthan and Gujarat, Varaha's Biochar CSI initiative extracts Prosopis juliflora from Banni Grassland Reserve and village common lands. Utilizing artisanal methods, biochar is produced, providing a sustainable solution to the invasive species issue. The project collaborates with local communities, NGO Sahjeevan, and agricultural company Sajeevan Organics, sequestering emissions, generating economic value for pastoralists, and promoting transparent biochar application.

Varaha's Biochar project, in partnership with Sahjeevan and Sajeevan Organics, pioneers sustainable solutions. The project has more than 3,000 tons of CO2e sequestered and generated approximately 200,000$ of economic value for the community so far. The biochar is estimated to have a H/C ratio of <0.3 and a carbon content >80%.

• Carbon Standard International - this organisation sets guidelines and standards of good practice in biochar, where Veraha's Biochar credits are registered.