From Tamil Nadu to Namibia: Our David Friese-Greene’s Journey Pioneering Biochar to Benefit Rural Communities Around the World

Every organisation has people whose vision shapes its direction. For our team, one of those people is David Friese-Greene—my father—whose pioneering work with biochar has influenced our approach to regenerative agriculture, carbon removal, and sustainable land management for nearly two decades.

Long before biochar became recognised as one of the world's most promising carbon removal technologies, David was working alongside farmers to demonstrate its practical benefits for improving soils, increasing crop resilience, and restoring degraded land. His journey has taken him from rural communities in Tamil Nadu, India, to the bushlands of Namibia, where many of the same principles continue to guide our work today.

The Beginning: Biochar in Tamil Nadu

David's biochar journey began in southern India through a collaboration with the Social Change and Development (SCAD) organisation in Tamil Nadu.

Working with local farmers, agricultural experts and international researchers, he helped establish one of the early field programmes exploring how biochar could improve tropical soils while supporting rural livelihoods.

The idea was simple yet transformative. Agricultural residues and woody biomass, materials often regarded as waste, were converted through pyrolysis into biochar—a stable form of carbon capable of remaining in soils for centuries.

Rather than burning crop residues or allowing them to decompose, communities could create a valuable soil amendment that improved fertility while locking atmospheric carbon safely into the ground.

Learning from Farmers

One lesson David has always championed is that innovation starts by listening.

The project combined scientific research with practical farming experience, documenting how local growers had already been experimenting with charcoal as a soil amendment. These observations became the foundation for structured field trials that investigated different feedstocks, application rates and soil responses.

The results were encouraging. Biochar improved soil structure, increased organic matter, enhanced moisture retention and supported healthier crop growth. Just as importantly, it demonstrated that farmers could improve productivity while contributing to long-term carbon sequestration.

This combination of practical agriculture and climate action would become a defining theme throughout David's work.

Looking Beyond Carbon

Although biochar is now widely discussed for its carbon removal potential, David has always viewed it as much more than a climate technology.

His work explored how small-scale pyrolysis systems could simultaneously produce renewable energy, cleaner cooking solutions and biochar for agriculture. The goal was never simply to store carbon—it was to improve lives, restore soils and create lasting economic opportunities for rural communities.

That holistic approach continues to influence our own thinking today.

Bringing Those Lessons to Namibia

Many years later, those same principles found a natural home in Namibia.

The country faces a very different environmental challenge: extensive bush encroachment has transformed millions of hectares of productive grazing land. Yet where others see a problem, David sees an opportunity.

By converting invasive woody biomass into biochar, Namibia can restore degraded soils, improve water retention, support agriculture and permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere.

The landscapes may be different from Tamil Nadu, but the philosophy remains remarkably similar: transform underused biomass into something valuable for farmers, communities and the environment.

As our own team continues developing biochar projects in Namibia, we are building on many of the ideas David helped demonstrate years ago. His experience reminds us that successful climate solutions must also make sense for the people who live and work on the land every day.

A Legacy That Continues

Working alongside my father has given me a unique appreciation for both his technical knowledge and his unwavering belief that sustainable development starts with people.

He has spent years connecting farmers, engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs around a shared vision of healthier soils and more resilient communities. Long before carbon markets existed, he understood that restoring land and storing carbon could—and should—go hand in hand.

Today, as biochar becomes recognised worldwide as a powerful tool for regenerative agriculture and carbon removal, it is rewarding to see many of those early ideas gaining the attention they deserve.

For our team, David's work is not simply part of our history—it is part of our foundation. His experience continues to shape our projects, inspire our partnerships and remind us that the best innovations are often those that combine scientific rigour with practical solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

We are proud to have David Friese-Greene as part of our team, and I am especially proud to call him my father. His journey from the villages of Tamil Nadu to the landscapes of Namibia is more than a personal story—it reflects our shared commitment to restoring land, supporting communities and leaving a healthier planet for future generations.