Indonesia’s rich agricultural landscape offers more than just environmental benefits—it provides a sustainable resource that, when converted into biochar, can support both climate resilience and local economies. Producing biochar in Indonesia is most effective when done in collaboration with local communities, ensuring that the process is not only environmentally responsible but also socially inclusive.
By involving local communities, farmers, and cultivators, biochar production can strengthen economies and promote sustainable land management practices. Integrating biochar production into local supply chains has the potential to enhance livelihoods, support regenerative agriculture, and contribute to global climate solutions. Sustainable biochar production is not just about reducing carbon footprints—it’s about empowering communities to be at the heart of the solution.
Bhetochar’s production site is located in East Java, strategically positioned to be close to its network of feedstock sources and the local communities that play a crucial role in high-quality biochar production for global applications. East Java is home to abundant resources, such as bamboo and agricultural residues, making it an ideal region for biochar development while supporting zero-waste processing and responsible land management.
Bhetochar’s Focus
Bhetochar focuses on the production of biochar for environmental and agricultural solution providers. We source our feedstock from agricultural residues such as corn cobs and unused bamboo waste. Bhetochar’s biochar contributes to:
- Soil Improvement: Enhances soil fertility and water retention, particularly in degraded or overworked soils.
- Environmental Restoration and Remediation: Assists in removing toxins and contaminants, particularly in industrial and mining areas.
- Carbon Sequestration: Captures and stores carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.
EBF program beneficiaries receiving biochar introductory workshop by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)
Strategic partnership
It takes a village to raise a child, but also to build a business. At Bhetochar, we believe that sustainable biochar production is only possible through strong partnerships with local (farmer) communities and small businesses. By working closely with bamboo growers, agricultural cooperatives, and rural entrepreneurs, we create a circular economy where natural resources are utilized efficiently while supporting economic resilience.
Our partnerships provide farmers with additional income opportunities by turning unutilized bamboo and agricultural residues into a valuable resource. Bamboo-based businesses involved in providing their waste as feedstock can also benefit by reducing waste and tapping into new revenue streams. Beyond economic advantages, Bhetochar’s biochar is available to improve soil health, enhance agricultural productivity, and promote sustainable farming practices within surrounding communities.
Core Team
Maria Wahono, Maria graduated with a BA in Economics and Finance from the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA in 1996 and a MB in Accounting from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia in 2005. She has developed an extensive career in corporate finance/project finance for more than 20 years. Maria began her career at Arthur Andersen in 1996, where she was exposed to private and public companies engaged in business and corporate finance consulting services. Prior to joining Clean Power Indonesia in July 2015, she worked at Thiess Indonesia, a subsidiary of CIMIC Group Australia, for almost 10 years overseeing Thiess Toll Road Concessions. And prior to working at Thiess she worked in an Investment Banking company.
Misty Diansharira obtained her MA in Organizational Anthropology in the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She handled local and international brands in her agency years at Mullen Lowe, but found most of her fulfilment in handling community development projects in the villages of Lombok and Sumatra. This includes co-curating communication concepts and developing advocacy programs and collaborations between CSO’s, government officials, and donors.
Ian Malana, an Engineer specialized in Power Generation business with 24-years’ experience in the power sector. His professional experience includes Renewable Energy, Biomass based power generation, Waste to Energy and Energy Advisory. Holder of M.Sc in Project Management, Construction Management, and Business Administration from Oregon State University, Oregon, USA and Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from Universitas Katolik Parahyangan, Bandung.
Yuventius Nicky’s work is centered on the industrial production and practical application of biochar-based technologies to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, food security, and ecosystem degradation. His work focuses on moving biochar beyond its role as a simple soil amendment and engineering it into a sophisticated platform for ecological and agricultural solutions.
His applied research investigates the engineering of biochar into a versatile platform for two key applications: enhancing agricultural biosecurity and executing complex environmental remediation.
In the agricultural domain, this involves formulating biochar as an advanced carrier for microbial inoculants. A primary focus is the development and validation of biochar products enhanced with biological control agents designed to suppress soil-borne pathogens, which pose a significant threat to vital crops in Indonesian agriculture.
In environmental remediation, his work explores the synergy between biological and botanical methods (bio-phyto remediation). A key project is the evaluation of bamboo biochar amendments combined with the hyper-tolerant local plant species to reduce the bioavailability of heavy metals and improve the substrate for ecological recovery. This foundational research is intended to create a pathway for later enhancing these systems with specialized microbial consortia, paving the way for more comprehensive, multi-faceted solutions for contaminated landscapes.
Through his work at Bhetochar, the core objective is to translate these research findings into robust, scalable products. The goal is to develop solutions that create a positive feedback loop between agriculture and the environment, providing farmers with tools that protect crop yields while simultaneously building the soil health and resilience needed to withstand long-term climate stressors. Ultimately, his work seeks to create synergistic systems where food security and ecosystem restoration are integrated and mutually reinforcing outcomes.