Biomass collection
Cotton stalks, orchard prunings and fruit pits that are burned in the fields today are collected by Bio-Kishovarz members and other agricultural producers.
Result: recorded feedstock — how much, from where, from which field
National carbon credit platformRepublic of Tajikistan
Turning what is burned in the fields into healthy soil and carbon credits
CARBON.TJ collects crop residues, converts them into biochar and issues verifiable CO₂ removal credits — to the benefit of farmers in Sughd and Khatlon. We are looking for partners to launch the first projects.
Are you a farmer or a cooperative? How to take part →
From field to creditHow it works
01
Cotton stalks and orchard prunings
burned in the fields today
100,000+tresidues per year
02
Biochar
heating without oxygen
centuriesof carbon in the soil
03
Healthy soil
holds water and nutrients
up to−30%irrigation water
04
Carbon credit
after independent verification
$100–180+per t CO₂e
Initiators
Methodology
Verra VM0044/ Gold Standard SOC/ International Biochar Initiative
Cotton stalkscollected instead of being burned in the field
CenturiesCO₂ stays stored in the soil
Up to −30%irrigation water
$100–180+per tonne of CO₂e in CDR credits
Sughd · Khatlonpriority farming regions
Verra · Gold Standard · IBImethodological basis
Since 2012Bio-Kishovarz experience in organic farming
Cotton stalkscollected instead of being burned in the field
CenturiesCO₂ stays stored in the soil
Up to −30%irrigation water
$100–180+per tonne of CO₂e in CDR credits
Sughd · Khatlonpriority farming regions
Verra · Gold Standard · IBImethodological basis
Since 2012Bio-Kishovarz experience in organic farming
01About
The market is shifting from quantity to quality
Growth in industry, energy and agriculture comes with rising CO₂ emissions and threats to biodiversity. This calls for systemic solutions rather than isolated projects.
After the boom of 2020–2021 and the volatility of 2022–2023, carbon credit buyers now demand additionality, durability and no double counting4. CARBON.TJ is built for this demand from day one.
- The first national platform for carbon credits in Tajikistan — transparent and aligned with international standards.
- Biochar as the core tool: physical removal of CO₂, not a promise not to emit it.
- A ready feedstock base and the Bio-Kishovarz farmer network to collect biomass.
- Integration with BIOFIN and the Debt-for-Nature Swaps mechanism.
02Why biochar
Not avoidance, but removal
Biochar takes CO₂ out of the atmosphere and locks it in the soil for centuries. These credits (CDR — Carbon Dioxide Removal) are bought by technology companies and cost many times more than standard ones1.
Most credits on the market
Avoided emissions
- Mechanism
- An emission does not happen
- Duration
- Depends on the forest surviving
- Benefit to the field
- —
$5–15per t CO₂e
CARBON.TJ
CO₂ removal with biochar
- Mechanism
- CO₂ is removed and stored in the soil
- Duration
- Centuries
- Benefit to the field
- Water retention, fertility, 20–30% less irrigation
$100–180+per t CO₂e
Buyers of CDR credits worldwide:MicrosoftStripeShopifyGoogle
03How it works
From field to registry
Four steps, each producing a verifiable result — the basis of buyer trust.
Pyrolysis
Biomass is heated without oxygen. The carbon does not burn; it turns into a stable porous form — biochar.
Result: a biochar batch with a quality analysis
Soil application
Biochar is applied to the fields. It holds water and nutrients, and the carbon stays in the ground for centuries.
Result: stored CO₂ and more fertile soil
Verification and credits
An independent auditor verifies the data under an international methodology. Only then are credits issued to a registry and sold on international and regional markets.
Result: carbon credits and income for everyone in the chain
04Where we work
Sughd and Khatlon — our first regions
- Why hereThe country’s main farming regions, where drought and water savings matter most
- FeedstockCotton stalks, orchard prunings and fruit pits that are burned today
- Farmer networkBio-Kishovarz cooperative — organic farming since 2012
- Project office4 Payrav Sulaymoni Ave., Khujand
05Model
How much carbon is in the residues
Choose a scale — from a single farm to the whole country — and see what crop residues can become.
An illustrative model, not a project estimate. Coefficients depend on the methodology, feedstock quality and pyrolysis technology; revenue sharing is set by agreement between participants.
t
Model assumptions
Biochar300t per year
CO₂e removed750t ≈ credits per year
Value of credits$75–135kper year at CDR market prices
06Global experience
The model already works elsewhere
Farmer-based biochar projects using crop residues are signing contracts with the largest buyers of CDR credits.
IndiaVaraha
Cotton stalks
100,000+
smallholder farmers in the company’s projects
Biochar from cotton stalks that used to be burned in the field. Farmers are paid for feedstock and receive a share of the credits. Contracts with Google and Microsoft.
Like usThe same feedstock — cotton stalks, the same smallholder farms and dry climate.
Source: note 5
BrazilNetZero
Cooperative → plant → field
10,000+
farmers in the partner cooperative Coocafé
The cooperative supplies coffee husks to the plant, and the biochar goes back to its members’ fields as a soil amendment.
Like usBio-Kishovarz plays the cooperative’s role: feedstock and farmers are already organised.
Source: note 6
BoliviaExomad Green
Scale and a long-term contract
1.24 Mt
of CO₂ — a 10-year contract with Microsoft
The largest biochar deal: the buyer commits in advance to purchase credits, and production is built around that contract.
LessonBuyers value volume and reliable supply for years ahead.
Source: note 7
07Debt-for-Nature Swaps
Debt in exchange for nature
Part of a country’s external debt is written off or restructured, and the savings are directed to nature conservation and sustainable agriculture.
1
Lower external debt
Creditors agree to write off or restructure part of the debt.
2
Investment in nature
Funds go to biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and reforestation.
3
International partnership
Agreements between the government, donors and environmental organisations.
08Indicators
What will change
Nine goals against which the platform’s results will be measured.
01Climate
Lower CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions
02Soil
Soil regeneration with biochar and organic practices
03Soil
Transition to organic agriculture
04Nature
Biodiversity conservation
05Institutions
A national carbon credit certification system
06Finance
Lower public debt through Debt-for-Nature Swaps
07Finance
Attracting international investment and donor support
08Economy
Growth of the green economy and new jobs
09Reputation
Tajikistan as a regional leader in sustainable development
09Quality
We measure, not promise
- Benefits for the field regardless of creditsBiochar improves soil and saves water even if the market changes.
- Every batch is traceableWhere the feedstock came from, how much biochar, which field it went to.
- Independent verificationCredits are issued only after verification by an accredited auditor.
- Reduce first, then offsetWe support buyers who cut their own emissions.
Verra VM0044
Carbon accounting methodology for biochar used in soil and other applications.
Calculation and verification of CDR credits
Gold Standard SOC
Framework methodology for soil organic carbon (SOC).
Carbon accounting for sustainable farming practices
International Biochar Initiative
Requirements for biochar quality and its safe use in soil.
Product quality control
The project plans to seek certification under these standards; it is not certified at this time.
10Initiators
Who is behind the project
LEAN Solutions
LEAN Solutions is one of the leading consulting companies in Central Asia, specialising in business process optimisation, LEAN and Kaizen, digital transformation and strategic development of companies and projects. It helps clients achieve meaningful results, reduce costs and strengthen their market position.
Bio-Kishovarz cooperative
The non-profit cooperative Bio-Kishovarz was founded in 2012 with the support of Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and GIZ and brings together organic farmers in Tajikistan who use environmentally friendly farming methods. It pioneered the production and export of organic cotton and rotation crops, building a sustainable model of organic agriculture in the country.
Tajikistan Chamber of Consultants
The Tajikistan Chamber of Consultants is a professional community of experts and consultants created to develop the consulting market, raise the quality of services and promote sustainable practices in business and public projects. It serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, cooperation and the adoption of international standards.
What is a carbon credit?
A certificate confirming that one tonne of CO₂ equivalent has been removed from the atmosphere or not emitted. A credit is issued only after independent verification and is recorded in a registry so it cannot be sold twice.
How is biochar different from ordinary charcoal?
Biochar is made from crop residues by pyrolysis — heating without oxygen. It is not burned but added to soil: the carbon stays stable for centuries, and its porous structure holds water and nutrients.
Why do CDR credits cost more than forest credits?
They confirm the physical, long-term removal of CO₂ rather than a promise not to emit it. Supply is limited, while demand from companies with net-zero targets is growing.
Don’t credits let factories keep polluting?
That risk exists, which is why we support the “reduce first, then offset” principle: credits should cover only residual emissions that cannot be eliminated. And biochar’s benefits for soil and water remain regardless of the credit market.
How can a farmer or cooperative take part?
Contact the project team by phone or email. We will explain how participation will work, what field and feedstock data are needed and how record-keeping is organised.
What is BIOFIN?
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative is a UNDP programme that helps countries assess their nature conservation funding needs and find sources of finance.
12Partner with us
Help us build the platform
We welcome partnerships with donors and international organisations, carbon credit buyers and agricultural producers.
Donors and IFIs
Funding the pilot
Integration with BIOFIN and the Debt-for-Nature Swaps mechanism.
Discuss a partnership → Credit buyersEarly access
Biochar CDR credits from Central Asia.
Request information → Farmers and agribusinessIncome from the same land
Payment for storing carbon, plus healthier soil.
Call us →Phone+992 902 666 999
Address4 Payrav Sulaymoni Ave., Khujand, Tajikistan
Notes and sources
- Price ranges for biochar CDR credits and standard forest credits are indicative, based on project materials.
- The water-retention effect of biochar is based on project materials.
- The volume of crop residues in Tajikistan is a project estimate.
- MSCI data on the share of A- and AA-rated credits are cited from project materials.
- Varaha (varaha.earth): AgFunderNews, ESG Dive.
- NetZero and Coocafé: Biofuels Digest.
- Exomad Green and Microsoft: GeekWire.
- AIX / AIFC: aifc.kz.
- Uzbekistan: UNDP.
- Ecuador: The Nature Conservancy.
- Relief: AWS Terrain Tiles (SRTM and other data); regional boundaries: geoBoundaries, CC BY 4.0 licence.
- Sown area: Sughd region — Avesta.tj, 1 Aug 2025 (in Russian); Khatlon region — Khovar news agency, 15 Aug 2026 (in Russian). Map: see note 11.