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THE PROJECT
POSITIVE IMPACTS
METHODOLOGY

Pacific Biochar

Biochar Project

Transform

Pacific Biochar reduces the threat of catastrophic wildfires in the Pacific Northwest by removing woody biomass from high fire hazard areas. Cogeneration power plants produce heat and electricity from the biomass, and simultaneously create a valuable co-product: biochar. The biochar is currently used primarily to aid agriculture and for carbon sequestration.

Contact:

Josiah Hunt,

Founder

josiah@pacificbiochar.com

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Biochar conversion facility - Source - Pacific Biochar
Biochar - Source - Pacific Biochar
Truck unloading biochar for agricultural purposes - Source - Pacific Biochar

Ecological Benefits Targets

Pacific Biochar provides advanced biochar products in large capacities with a focus on agriculture and ecosystem management.

The project utilizes forest biomass from high fire hazard areas in California and modifies biomass power plants to produce biochar, thus leveraging existing infrastructure, trained staff, and hard-earned utility and procurement contracts. By collecting biomass from high fire hazard areas, the project also helps mitigate catastrophic wildfires. Once produced, the high-quality biochar is distributed, primarily in agriculture, and commonly in collaboration with compost yards. This creates efficiency in shared equipment and trucking, as well as additional ecological benefits; when biochar is used in composting, it not only makes a great combined product, it also significantly reduces GHG emissions from compost.

Air

Pacific Biochar’s practices help mitigate catastrophic wildfires by removing concentrated levels of biomass. When combined with compost, biochar also significantly reduces odors and GHG emissions.

Water

Biochar has the capacity to capture excessive nutrients and even pollutants in soil. It can also increase the soil’s capacity to retain water, thus increasing the availability of water to plants.

Soil

When applied to soil, biochar increases soil organic matter (SOM) and improves its quality, and can also enhance nutrient availability and uptake by plants.

Biodiversity

Mitigating catastrophic wildfires protects animal habitats and diverse ecosystems. Enhancing soil health and biodiversity can also promote more productive and diverse ecosystems.

Equity

Pacific Biochar helps to improve air quality in rural farming regions, providing benefits to neighboring communities, and donating to underserved and young farmers.

Carbon

Pacific Biochar adds biochar to early stage compost applications, reducing emissions and sequestering carbon in soil that will benefit farmers and climate mitigation efforts.

Community

Operation Location: United States of America (California)
Coordinates: Ea 85’V nam CUm 80’P
Land Tenure: Pacific Biochar works globally with local producers and industries. The biochar is produced from forest residue covering land that is owned by a combination of co-operatives, private individuals, companies, and governments. The primary action occurs at the sites where biochar is processed, while ancillary actions occur at farmlands and forests.

Project Development

Project Developer: Pacific Biochar

Josiah Hunt is the founder of Pacific Biochar and has been a pioneer in the industry. He believes in the promise of biochar and appreciates the synergies it can produce between industries.

Biochar is a compelling solution across multiple fronts: it not only reduces air pollution and the risk of catastrophic wildfires, it also benefits the farmers who receive it by improving their crop yields, increasing soil water retention, and enhancing the soil’s microbiome.

Stakeholders & Beneficiaries

Pacific Biochar’s direct beneficiaries are young and underserved farmers, forestry professionals, and future generations. Other beneficiaries include companies within its value chain such as cogeneration plants, compost companies, and communities in wildfire-prone areas.

State of Development

Fully Operational

Project Launch

EBF Sector

Built

Project Type

Transform

Credit Type

Certificates

Carbon credits on the registries of EBC C-Sink, Carbon Standards International, and Carbonfuture.

Data PrivaCy

Yes

# of annual credits produced

25000
https://www.carbonicons.org/fingerprints/pacific-biochar?background-hidden&overlay-hidden&no-blur

Air.

Clean air is vital for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and supporting ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Pacific Biochar has a multifaceted impact on air quality through various approaches. The project's conversion and enhanced efficiency of biomass plants reduces emissions and contributes to cleaner air. These advancements in plant conversion and efficiency also decrease wood burning, which further improves air quality by decreasing the demand for wood resources and reducing associated deforestation. Additionally, Pacific Biochar's practice of collecting wood from high fire hazard areas serves the dual purpose of mitigating wildfire risks and safeguarding clean air quality for surrounding communities and the environment.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Air Quality (improved)

Air Quality (improved)

Practice

Positive modifications to air quality achieved by controlling and reducing pollution levels, dust, particulate matter (PM) emissions, and by consistently monitoring overall quality.

X

Pacific Biochar’s practices help mitigate catastrophic wildfires by removing concentrated levels of biomass. When biochar is mixed with compost, noxious gases and GHG emissions are also reduced.

Trust

Self-Reported

Carbon Sink

Carbon Sink

Practice

A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere; helps mitigate climate change by reducing the concentration of GHGs; systems that absorb more carbon than they release (e.g., forests, oceans, soils) play a crucial role in balancing the carbon cycle.

X

Biochar enhances carbon sequestration in soils and compost. It can also capture and retain carbon for use as an additive used in various building and manufacturing processes (e.g., cement, plastics).

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Watershed Conservation

Watershed Conservation

Practice

The protection and management of areas in an ecosystem where water drains to a common point (e.g., river, lake, ocean).

X

By improving forest health, Pacific Biochar reduces surface runoff and conserves water. This increases the ecological stability of watersheds and decreases pressure on freshwater resources.

Trust

Self-Reported

Fire Management (improved)

Fire Management (improved)

Practice

Preventative forest management strategy that uses brush management practices (e.g., prescribed burns, livestock grazing) to imitate natural processes that reduce fuel loads and mitigate catastrophic wildfires.

X

Pacific Biochar produces biochar from biomass that is collected from high fire hazard areas. By reducing potential fuel, the project significantly contributes to mitigating catastrophic wildfires.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Deforestation (decreased)

Deforestation (decreased)

Practice

Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.

X

Pacific Biochar's focuses on using forest biomass from high fire hazard areas, thereby avoiding catastrophic wildfires and extensive damage to forests.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Forest Carbon Monitoring

Forest Carbon Monitoring

Practice

Monitoring and assessing changes in forest cover, carbon stocks, and associated emissions or removals in carbon forestry projects or REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) initiatives.

X

Pacific Biochar works with researchers and forestry service personnel to analyze forest carbon stocks in designated extraction sites in order to assess impacts of biomass removal on carbon stocks.

Trust

Self-Reported

Water.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Pacific Biochar's use of biochar as a soil and compost amendment yields several benefits for soil health and water management. When biochar is incorporated into soils, it improves the soil's organic carbon content, fosters biological activity, sequesters nutrients, and augments water retention and availability in the soil. This multifaceted approach not only contributes to soil health, it also plays a pivotal role in improving the wellbeing of forests. Healthier forests fortify nearby watersheds, reducing runoff and allowing for better conservation of water resources, which ultimately alleviates pressure on freshwater supplies. Consequently, Pacific Biochar's endeavors synergistically bolster the ecological stability of watersheds and promote responsible freshwater resource management.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Watershed Conservation

Watershed Conservation

Practice

The protection and management of areas in an ecosystem where water drains to a common point (e.g., river, lake, ocean).

X

By improving forest health, Pacific Biochar reduces surface runoff and conserves water. This increases the ecological stability of watersheds and decreases pressure on freshwater resources.

Trust

Self-Reported

Fire Management (improved)

Fire Management (improved)

Practice

Preventative forest management strategy that uses brush management practices (e.g., prescribed burns, livestock grazing) to imitate natural processes that reduce fuel loads and mitigate catastrophic wildfires.

X

Pacific Biochar produces biochar from biomass that is collected from high fire hazard areas. By reducing potential fuel, the project significantly contributes to mitigating catastrophic wildfires.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Surface Runoff (reduced)

Surface Runoff (reduced)

Practice

Practices that increase the ability of water to penetrate and soak into the ground during periods of excessive accumulation and precipitation, as opposed to flowing off the land into surface water; typically used in the context of water management to reduce flooding and erosion.

X

By improving forest health, Pacific Biochar reduces surface runoff and conserves water. These practices increase the ecological stability of watersheds and decrease pressure on freshwater resources.

Trust

Self-Reported

Soil Health (improved)

Soil Health (improved)

Practice

Increased capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem and to support other life; characterized by a loose, friable, and well-drained structure, presence of adequate nutrients, a pH between 5.5 and 7.5, and high levels of biological activity, with little to no evidence of pollutants or toxins.

X

Pacific Biochar produces biochar which, when applied to soils, increases soil organic carbon, enhances biological activity, captures nutrients, and enhances water retention and availability.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Deforestation (decreased)

Deforestation (decreased)

Practice

Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.

X

Pacific Biochar's focuses on using forest biomass from high fire hazard areas, thereby avoiding catastrophic wildfires and extensive damage to forests.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Water Quantity and Availability (increased)

Water Quantity and Availability (increased)

Practice

Practices that increase the water supply available for human uses that avoid detrimental impacts to the water cycle and respective ecosystems; can include digging boreholes and water wells, as well as water conservation practices.

X

The use of biochar as a soil and compost additive improves water retention and increases its availability for plants and soil microorganisms.

Trust

Self-Reported

Forest Carbon Monitoring

Forest Carbon Monitoring

Practice

Monitoring and assessing changes in forest cover, carbon stocks, and associated emissions or removals in carbon forestry projects or REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) initiatives.

X

Pacific Biochar works with researchers and forestry service personnel to analyze forest carbon stocks in designated extraction sites in order to assess impacts of biomass removal on carbon stocks.

Trust

Self-Reported

Soil.

Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.

The use of biochar as a soil and compost amendment enhances soil quality, fostering fertility, and boosting farmland productivity. By incorporating biochar into soils, the project effectively captures nutrients and makes them readily available to plants, thus amplifying their growth potential. A noteworthy facet of this approach is its contribution to the creation of a habitat that is conducive to microorganisms. The porosity and unique structure of biochar, which effectively retains water and nutrients, serves as an ideal environment for a diverse and thriving ecosystem of soil microorganisms. Moreover, the application of biochar not only amplifies the soil's ability to nurture plant life, it also accentuates the habitat and conditions for these essential soil microorganisms.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Fire Management (improved)

Fire Management (improved)

Practice

Preventative forest management strategy that uses brush management practices (e.g., prescribed burns, livestock grazing) to imitate natural processes that reduce fuel loads and mitigate catastrophic wildfires.

X

Pacific Biochar produces biochar from biomass that is collected from high fire hazard areas. By reducing potential fuel, the project significantly contributes to mitigating catastrophic wildfires.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Soil Health (improved)

Soil Health (improved)

Practice

Increased capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem and to support other life; characterized by a loose, friable, and well-drained structure, presence of adequate nutrients, a pH between 5.5 and 7.5, and high levels of biological activity, with little to no evidence of pollutants or toxins.

X

Pacific Biochar produces biochar which, when applied to soils, increases soil organic carbon, enhances biological activity, captures nutrients, and enhances water retention and availability.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Surface Runoff (reduced)

Surface Runoff (reduced)

Practice

Practices that increase the ability of water to penetrate and soak into the ground during periods of excessive accumulation and precipitation, as opposed to flowing off the land into surface water; typically used in the context of water management to reduce flooding and erosion.

X

By improving forest health, Pacific Biochar reduces surface runoff and conserves water. These practices increase the ecological stability of watersheds and decrease pressure on freshwater resources.

Trust

Self-Reported

Deforestation (decreased)

Deforestation (decreased)

Practice

Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.

X

Pacific Biochar's focuses on using forest biomass from high fire hazard areas, thereby avoiding catastrophic wildfires and extensive damage to forests.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Soil Microorganisms (increased)

Soil Microorganisms (increased)

Practice

Efforts that enhance the diversity, abundance, and activity of beneficial microbes in soil; supports nutrient cycling, organic matter breakdown, and soil health for sustainable land and agricultural practices.

X

Biochar's porosity and structure improve the quality of soil as a habitat for microorganisms. By increasing the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients, biochar allows microorganisms to thrive.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Soil Fertility (improved)

Soil Fertility (improved)

Practice

The ability of soil to support plant growth for agriculture purposes or as suitable habitat for native plants; in agriculture, assesses the soil's ability to provide sustained and consistent yields of high quality crops.

X

The application of biochar enhances soil fertility and farmland productivity by providing habitat for microorganisms and by capturing nutrients to increase their availability for plants.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Carbon Sink

Carbon Sink

Practice

A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere; helps mitigate climate change by reducing the concentration of GHGs; systems that absorb more carbon than they release (e.g., forests, oceans, soils) play a crucial role in balancing the carbon cycle.

X

Biochar enhances carbon sequestration in soils and compost. It can also capture and retain carbon for use as an additive used in various building and manufacturing processes (e.g., cement, plastics).

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Carbon Tracking

Carbon Tracking

Practice

The process of long-term carbon monitoring; quantifies the carbon emissions and carbon footprint of a project or organization over a time.

X

Pacific Biochar's laboratories, infrastructure, and ecological analyses are all included in a blockchain-based tracking system that tracks carbon through the value chain.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Forest Carbon Monitoring

Forest Carbon Monitoring

Practice

Monitoring and assessing changes in forest cover, carbon stocks, and associated emissions or removals in carbon forestry projects or REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) initiatives.

X

Pacific Biochar works with researchers and forestry service personnel to analyze forest carbon stocks in designated extraction sites in order to assess impacts of biomass removal on carbon stocks.

Trust

Self-Reported

Biodiversity.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Pacific Biochar's work actively promotes biodiversity. By capturing and retaining essential nutrients in soils, their use of biochar supports diverse plant species, in turn providing critical habitats for wildlife. The porosity and structure of biochar create a thriving ecosystem for soil microorganisms, further enriching biodiversity. This approach also enhances forest health, reducing pressure on freshwater resources and stabilizing watersheds, thus supporting a range of flora and fauna. Additionally, carbon sequestration and improved ecosystem resilience help mitigate climate change's effects and disturbances, fostering a resilient and biodiverse environment.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Air Quality (improved)

Air Quality (improved)

Practice

Positive modifications to air quality achieved by controlling and reducing pollution levels, dust, particulate matter (PM) emissions, and by consistently monitoring overall quality.

X

Pacific Biochar’s practices help mitigate catastrophic wildfires by removing concentrated levels of biomass. When biochar is mixed with compost, noxious gases and GHG emissions are also reduced.

Trust

Self-Reported

Fire Management (improved)

Fire Management (improved)

Practice

Preventative forest management strategy that uses brush management practices (e.g., prescribed burns, livestock grazing) to imitate natural processes that reduce fuel loads and mitigate catastrophic wildfires.

X

Pacific Biochar produces biochar from biomass that is collected from high fire hazard areas. By reducing potential fuel, the project significantly contributes to mitigating catastrophic wildfires.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Surface Runoff (reduced)

Surface Runoff (reduced)

Practice

Practices that increase the ability of water to penetrate and soak into the ground during periods of excessive accumulation and precipitation, as opposed to flowing off the land into surface water; typically used in the context of water management to reduce flooding and erosion.

X

By improving forest health, Pacific Biochar reduces surface runoff and conserves water. These practices increase the ecological stability of watersheds and decrease pressure on freshwater resources.

Trust

Self-Reported

Deforestation (decreased)

Deforestation (decreased)

Practice

Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.

X

Pacific Biochar's focuses on using forest biomass from high fire hazard areas, thereby avoiding catastrophic wildfires and extensive damage to forests.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Water Quantity and Availability (increased)

Water Quantity and Availability (increased)

Practice

Practices that increase the water supply available for human uses that avoid detrimental impacts to the water cycle and respective ecosystems; can include digging boreholes and water wells, as well as water conservation practices.

X

The use of biochar as a soil and compost additive improves water retention and increases its availability for plants and soil microorganisms.

Trust

Self-Reported

Soil Microorganisms (increased)

Soil Microorganisms (increased)

Practice

Efforts that enhance the diversity, abundance, and activity of beneficial microbes in soil; supports nutrient cycling, organic matter breakdown, and soil health for sustainable land and agricultural practices.

X

Biochar's porosity and structure improve the quality of soil as a habitat for microorganisms. By increasing the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients, biochar allows microorganisms to thrive.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Watershed Conservation

Watershed Conservation

Practice

The protection and management of areas in an ecosystem where water drains to a common point (e.g., river, lake, ocean).

X

By improving forest health, Pacific Biochar reduces surface runoff and conserves water. This increases the ecological stability of watersheds and decreases pressure on freshwater resources.

Trust

Self-Reported

Soil Health (improved)

Soil Health (improved)

Practice

Increased capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem and to support other life; characterized by a loose, friable, and well-drained structure, presence of adequate nutrients, a pH between 5.5 and 7.5, and high levels of biological activity, with little to no evidence of pollutants or toxins.

X

Pacific Biochar produces biochar which, when applied to soils, increases soil organic carbon, enhances biological activity, captures nutrients, and enhances water retention and availability.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Soil Fertility (improved)

Soil Fertility (improved)

Practice

The ability of soil to support plant growth for agriculture purposes or as suitable habitat for native plants; in agriculture, assesses the soil's ability to provide sustained and consistent yields of high quality crops.

X

The application of biochar enhances soil fertility and farmland productivity by providing habitat for microorganisms and by capturing nutrients to increase their availability for plants.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Equity.

Supporting equity and inclusion fosters social justice, ensures equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promotes the well-being and participation of all, regardless of background or circumstances.

Pacific Biochar's initiatives have the potential to impact social equity in various ways. Their practices can generate economic opportunities, offering jobs in rural areas and addressing economic disparities. Improved air and water quality resulting from wildfire risk reduction and soil enhancement benefits communities vulnerable to poor air quality. Enhanced soil fertility contributes to agricultural productivity, potentially bolstering local farmers' livelihoods. Moreover, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting ecological benefits, Pacific Biochar indirectly contributes to environmental justice and community resilience.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Carbon Tracking

Carbon Tracking

Practice

The process of long-term carbon monitoring; quantifies the carbon emissions and carbon footprint of a project or organization over a time.

X

Pacific Biochar's laboratories, infrastructure, and ecological analyses are all included in a blockchain-based tracking system that tracks carbon through the value chain.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Water Quantity and Availability (increased)

Water Quantity and Availability (increased)

Practice

Practices that increase the water supply available for human uses that avoid detrimental impacts to the water cycle and respective ecosystems; can include digging boreholes and water wells, as well as water conservation practices.

X

The use of biochar as a soil and compost additive improves water retention and increases its availability for plants and soil microorganisms.

Trust

Self-Reported

Air Quality (improved)

Air Quality (improved)

Practice

Positive modifications to air quality achieved by controlling and reducing pollution levels, dust, particulate matter (PM) emissions, and by consistently monitoring overall quality.

X

Pacific Biochar’s practices help mitigate catastrophic wildfires by removing concentrated levels of biomass. When biochar is mixed with compost, noxious gases and GHG emissions are also reduced.

Trust

Self-Reported

Auditability

Auditability

Practice

The ability to inspect a data set or site to determine whether its corresponding operational and financial practices adhere to predetermined protocols.

X

Pacific Biochar's generated carbon credits undergo periodic audits, verification, and monitoring to assess predicted permanence of carbon stocks.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Carbon Sink

Carbon Sink

Practice

A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere; helps mitigate climate change by reducing the concentration of GHGs; systems that absorb more carbon than they release (e.g., forests, oceans, soils) play a crucial role in balancing the carbon cycle.

X

Biochar enhances carbon sequestration in soils and compost. It can also capture and retain carbon for use as an additive used in various building and manufacturing processes (e.g., cement, plastics).

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Watershed Conservation

Watershed Conservation

Practice

The protection and management of areas in an ecosystem where water drains to a common point (e.g., river, lake, ocean).

X

By improving forest health, Pacific Biochar reduces surface runoff and conserves water. This increases the ecological stability of watersheds and decreases pressure on freshwater resources.

Trust

Self-Reported

Fire Management (improved)

Fire Management (improved)

Practice

Preventative forest management strategy that uses brush management practices (e.g., prescribed burns, livestock grazing) to imitate natural processes that reduce fuel loads and mitigate catastrophic wildfires.

X

Pacific Biochar produces biochar from biomass that is collected from high fire hazard areas. By reducing potential fuel, the project significantly contributes to mitigating catastrophic wildfires.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Surface Runoff (reduced)

Surface Runoff (reduced)

Practice

Practices that increase the ability of water to penetrate and soak into the ground during periods of excessive accumulation and precipitation, as opposed to flowing off the land into surface water; typically used in the context of water management to reduce flooding and erosion.

X

By improving forest health, Pacific Biochar reduces surface runoff and conserves water. These practices increase the ecological stability of watersheds and decrease pressure on freshwater resources.

Trust

Self-Reported

Deforestation (decreased)

Deforestation (decreased)

Practice

Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.

X

Pacific Biochar's focuses on using forest biomass from high fire hazard areas, thereby avoiding catastrophic wildfires and extensive damage to forests.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Carbon.

Carbon capture and storage plays a crucial role in tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all living beings.

Pacific Biochar's use of biochar plays a pivotal role in carbon management. Biochar's carbon sequestration capabilities serve as a vital lifeline for species vulnerable to environmental shifts. Importantly, Pacific Biochar exercises caution by employing a conservative estimate of permanence when assessing the carbon stored by biochar, thus accounting for unforeseen ecological outcomes. In agricultural operations, biochar emerges as a powerful ally in carbon sequestration, even when used in early-stage compost, where it efficiently reduces multiple greenhouse gas emissions.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Forest Carbon Monitoring

Forest Carbon Monitoring

Practice

Monitoring and assessing changes in forest cover, carbon stocks, and associated emissions or removals in carbon forestry projects or REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) initiatives.

X

Pacific Biochar works with researchers and forestry service personnel to analyze forest carbon stocks in designated extraction sites in order to assess impacts of biomass removal on carbon stocks.

Trust

Self-Reported

Soil Microorganisms (increased)

Soil Microorganisms (increased)

Practice

Efforts that enhance the diversity, abundance, and activity of beneficial microbes in soil; supports nutrient cycling, organic matter breakdown, and soil health for sustainable land and agricultural practices.

X

Biochar's porosity and structure improve the quality of soil as a habitat for microorganisms. By increasing the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients, biochar allows microorganisms to thrive.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

Air Quality (improved)

Air Quality (improved)

Practice

Positive modifications to air quality achieved by controlling and reducing pollution levels, dust, particulate matter (PM) emissions, and by consistently monitoring overall quality.

X

Pacific Biochar’s practices help mitigate catastrophic wildfires by removing concentrated levels of biomass. When biochar is mixed with compost, noxious gases and GHG emissions are also reduced.

Trust

Self-Reported

Conservative Discounting

Conservative Discounting

Practice

The ability to inspect a data set or site to determine whether its corresponding operational and financial practices adhere to predetermined protocols.

X

Pacific Biochar's generated carbon credits undergo periodic audits, verification, and monitoring to assess predicted permanence of carbon stocks.

Trust

Self-Reported

/On-Blockchain

Carbon Sequestration

Carbon Sequestration

Practice

The capturing, removal, and storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the earth's atmosphere; effectiveness typically expressed in terms of anticipated stability and duration of storage.

X

When applied in agricultural operations, biochar can enhance carbon sequestration. In particular, when biochar is used in early-stage compost, it helps reduce a variety of GHG emissions.

Trust

Self-Reported

Carbon Tracking

Carbon Tracking

Practice

The process of long-term carbon monitoring; quantifies the carbon emissions and carbon footprint of a project or organization over a time.

X

Pacific Biochar's laboratories, infrastructure, and ecological analyses are all included in a blockchain-based tracking system that tracks carbon through the value chain.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Fire Management (improved)

Fire Management (improved)

Practice

Preventative forest management strategy that uses brush management practices (e.g., prescribed burns, livestock grazing) to imitate natural processes that reduce fuel loads and mitigate catastrophic wildfires.

X

Pacific Biochar produces biochar from biomass that is collected from high fire hazard areas. By reducing potential fuel, the project significantly contributes to mitigating catastrophic wildfires.

Trust

Standards & Certifications

GHG Emissions (reduced)

GHG Emissions (reduced)

Practice

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions prevented or reduced to mitigate climate change; determined by calculating the difference between emissions produced in the actual scenario versus a hypothetical scenario where actions are taken to reduce emissions.

X

Cogeneration plants can burn woody biomass with reduced GHG emissions. When Pacific Biochar adds biochar to early-stage compost, it also reduces GHG emissions and improves carbon sequestration.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Carbon Sink

Carbon Sink

Practice

A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere; helps mitigate climate change by reducing the concentration of GHGs; systems that absorb more carbon than they release (e.g., forests, oceans, soils) play a crucial role in balancing the carbon cycle.

X

Biochar enhances carbon sequestration in soils and compost. It can also capture and retain carbon for use as an additive used in various building and manufacturing processes (e.g., cement, plastics).

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV)

Pacific Biochar’s mission aligns with many different ecological benefits because biochar itself, from its production and up to the point of its use, has many benefits for Air, Water, Soil, Biodiversity, Equity, and Carbon.

Pacific Biochar has been dedicated to enhancing biomass energy production and introducing biochar for agricultural use since the project was created. It also concurrently benefits local communities by creating jobs.

Pacific Biochar itself benefits mainly from the sale of carbon credits. By recognizing the impact of carbon sequestration, the project has been able to develop robust systems for measuring, reporting, and verifying the scale of its impact.

[Learn more about the challenges of measurement and equity]

Primary Measurement Methods

This overview is not an endorsement or recommendation and should not be used as the basis for any investment decision.

Measurement (M)

Description

Benefits

Reporting Method (R)

Verification Type (V)

Testing

As per EBC certification, each batch of biochar is tested for water holding capacity, electric conductivity, carbon content, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, and more.
Air Clean air is vital for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and supporting ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Air.

Air.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Water.

Water.

Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.

Soil.

Soil.

Enhancing and safeguarding biodiversity ensures the stability of ecosystems by providing invaluable services such as pollination, pest control, and genetic diversity.

Biodiversity.

Biodiversity.

Diversity and inclusion foster social justice, ensure equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promote the well-being of all, regardless of background.

Equity.

Equity.

Carbon capture and storage is crucial for tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all.

Carbon.

Carbon.

Measuring, assessment, and record-keeping conducted by the project collaborators. Self-reporting may include fieldwork, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, stakeholder evaluations, verifying paperwork, and other methods.

Self-Reported

Self-Reported

Project collaborators may use data capture and verification methods such as game cameras, in-field geo-referenced documentation, and satellite data to confirm self-reported results.

Raw Data

Raw Data

Some or all data is placed onto blockchain to ensure the immutability and transparency of specified shared data, sometimes using specified protocols for designated certifiers and registries.

On-Blockchain

On-Blockchain

Evaluation or assessment conducted by an independent, trusted entity utilizing established standards and protocols, often in association with a specified certification process.

Standards & Certifications

Standards & Certifications

Evaluation or assessment is conducted by an independent, trusted entity to ensure the accuracy and integrity of reported data.

Third-Party Verified

Third-Party Verified

Record keeping mechanism that establishes standardized protocols for credit issuance and project registration, and provides a public ledger where credit ownership can be tracked from creation to retirement; the traceability of registry transactions protects the integrity of credit assets by ensuring that a credit or token cannot be allocated to more than one entity.

Registry

Registry

Emissions Monitoring

Alongside reporting and sampling of biochar, Pacific Biochar continously monitor emissions and avoidance of emissions in relation to biochar application and production.
Air Clean air is vital for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and supporting ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Air.

Air.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Water.

Water.

Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.

Soil.

Soil.

Enhancing and safeguarding biodiversity ensures the stability of ecosystems by providing invaluable services such as pollination, pest control, and genetic diversity.

Biodiversity.

Biodiversity.

Diversity and inclusion foster social justice, ensure equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promote the well-being of all, regardless of background.

Equity.

Equity.

Carbon capture and storage is crucial for tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all.

Carbon.

Carbon.

Measuring, assessment, and record-keeping conducted by the project collaborators. Self-reporting may include fieldwork, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, stakeholder evaluations, verifying paperwork, and other methods.

Self-Reported

Self-Reported

Project collaborators may use data capture and verification methods such as game cameras, in-field geo-referenced documentation, and satellite data to confirm self-reported results.

Raw Data

Raw Data

Some or all data is placed onto blockchain to ensure the immutability and transparency of specified shared data, sometimes using specified protocols for designated certifiers and registries.

On-Blockchain

On-Blockchain

Evaluation or assessment conducted by an independent, trusted entity utilizing established standards and protocols, often in association with a specified certification process.

Standards & Certifications

Standards & Certifications

Evaluation or assessment is conducted by an independent, trusted entity to ensure the accuracy and integrity of reported data.

Third-Party Verified

Third-Party Verified

Record keeping mechanism that establishes standardized protocols for credit issuance and project registration, and provides a public ledger where credit ownership can be tracked from creation to retirement; the traceability of registry transactions protects the integrity of credit assets by ensuring that a credit or token cannot be allocated to more than one entity.

Registry

Registry

Visual and Physical Analysis

Pacific Biochar uses visual and physical analyses of biochar application to ascertain how much carbon it avoids or stores once applied.
Air Clean air is vital for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and supporting ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Air.

Air.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Water.

Water.

Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.

Soil.

Soil.

Enhancing and safeguarding biodiversity ensures the stability of ecosystems by providing invaluable services such as pollination, pest control, and genetic diversity.

Biodiversity.

Biodiversity.

Diversity and inclusion foster social justice, ensure equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promote the well-being of all, regardless of background.

Equity.

Equity.

Carbon capture and storage is crucial for tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all.

Carbon.

Carbon.

Measuring, assessment, and record-keeping conducted by the project collaborators. Self-reporting may include fieldwork, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, stakeholder evaluations, verifying paperwork, and other methods.

Self-Reported

Self-Reported

Project collaborators may use data capture and verification methods such as game cameras, in-field geo-referenced documentation, and satellite data to confirm self-reported results.

Raw Data

Raw Data

Some or all data is placed onto blockchain to ensure the immutability and transparency of specified shared data, sometimes using specified protocols for designated certifiers and registries.

On-Blockchain

On-Blockchain

Evaluation or assessment conducted by an independent, trusted entity utilizing established standards and protocols, often in association with a specified certification process.

Standards & Certifications

Standards & Certifications

Evaluation or assessment is conducted by an independent, trusted entity to ensure the accuracy and integrity of reported data.

Third-Party Verified

Third-Party Verified

Record keeping mechanism that establishes standardized protocols for credit issuance and project registration, and provides a public ledger where credit ownership can be tracked from creation to retirement; the traceability of registry transactions protects the integrity of credit assets by ensuring that a credit or token cannot be allocated to more than one entity.

Registry

Registry

Measurements

Pacific Biochar subscribes to the European Biochar Certificate (EBC) Standard to receive carbon credits for its biochar production. This certificate standardizes how biochar should be produced by specifying what kind of biomass should be used to produce biochar, which power plant types it should be produced in, and what degree of heat is required to produce it.

As part of this process, each batch of biochar that is produced must undergo a scrutinous process in which the batch is associated with an ID and monitored from production to application. This includes monitoring the supply chain, biochar production, biochar sampling, and a complete transparency of the health and safety of all that are involved in the process.

Measurements of biochar quality are part and parcel of the certification. The standards for biochar require experts to examine things such as the carbon content of the biochar, the amount of volatile organic compounds, and limiting the amount of heavy metals found in the product. These measurements and standards are part of a thorough verification that afford Pacific Biochar their European Biochar Certificate.

Reporting

Production and application data is collected and updated on a database. That data is put on the blockchain as a requirement of the platform.

While the blockchain system of Pacific Biochar delivers credits and data, they do not tokenize the credits. Much of the data is stored locally, on the cloud.

Samples of biochar are regularly sent, by batch, with corresponding IDs and QR codes, for sampling. This is part of Pacific Biochar European Biochar Certificate and is what gives them accreditation or the ability to sell credits for their work. Bulk density and water content are necessary specifications for trading biochar as well as for the production of consistent substrate mixtures and materials requiring consistent carbon contents.

All this information is carefully documented and reported. Each processing step of biochar and biochar-based products must be documented in a processing journal. The quantity and quality of all processed biochar and the amount of biochar contained in the final products must be documented as well.

Verification

Biochar is mainly used as a part of a processed product such as a soil-amendments, potting soil, compost, fertilizer, bedding material, feed, or as an additive. To guarantee and properly label products made with European Biochar Certificate (EBC) certified biochar, the entire supply chain including production, processing, packaging, and labeling of the products needs to be inspected and certified.

Pacific Biochar is certified by the European Biochar Certificate so that their product will be recognized with some of the highest standards for the product. This allows them more easily to get to markets such as the Carbon Future platform, where their credits are sold currently. This certification requires an in depth verification that includes sending samples of biochar for inspection, labeling and tracking all biochar and the supplychain, and reporting all of the data to EBC.

The inspection of the EBC is coordinated worldwide by the independent, state-accredited inspection body bio.inspecta AG. The inspection is carried out on site at each production facility. It takes place once a year. Producers are obliged to keep their production records up to date and their entire biochar production site must be inspected and certified, regardless of whether only one batch, several or all batches qualify for one of the EBC certificates.

Risk

The risk of carbon stock loss is virtually nonexistent. However, there is currently no comprehensive monitoring or management plan in place to actively track and mitigate any potential losses. When estimating the carbon that is stored by biochar, a conservative estimate of permanence is applied, but this estimate cannot be directly extrapolated to factors like air quality, water resources, soil health, biodiversity, or social equity in the same manner.

There is no specific buffer pool designated for carbon credits by Pacific Biochar, although such a mechanism could prove advantageous for other ecological benefits. The existing carbon credits framework does not incorporate considerations for future climate changes or other environmental variables, although it is conceivable that these factors could be addressed through complementary ecological benefits.

Permanence

Biochar degrades very slowly and the release of carbon is negligible with rates such as 96% carbon retained in 100 years, 59% retained in 500 years, and 35% retained in 1000 years. The calculation of carbon credits is based on the scientifically endorsed EBC C-Sink methodology. Given its notably extended lifespan, biochar ensures a sustainable approach to long-term carbon sequestration.

To maintain the integrity of the generated carbon credits, rigorous periodic audits, verifications, and ongoing monitoring protocols are implemented. These measures serve the crucial purpose of continuously assessing and confirming the anticipated permanence of carbon stocks, providing a reliable and accountable system for carbon credit management.

Additionality

Pacific Biochar’s economic sustainability relies on the support of carbon credits, without them, the project’s financial viability would be compromised. Encouragingly, Pacific Biochar has not encountered significant regulatory or policy barriers that would hinder project implementation, even in the absence of carbon credits.

Leakage

Pacific Biochar has not induced any shifting of emissions or activities to other regions or sectors, ensuring a responsible and contained approach. The project’s activities do not trigger unintended consequences related to market dynamics or behaviors. Additionally, Pacific Biochar takes measures to minimize any indirect effects that might undermine its intended emissions reductions.

Market

Pacific Biochar operates within a structured system to distribute carbon credits and to fairly compensate its various stakeholders throughout the process. The project’s carbon credits are formally registered on EBC C-Sink, Carbon Standards International, and Carbonfuture registries, and are also externally certified and validated through EBC C-Sink.

Carbon credits generated by Pacific Biochar are paid for in advance, usually via direct deposit, and are delivered 6-12 months later. Most the project’s credits are sold directly to buyers, the majority of whom are located in the United States. Other credits are channeled through intermediaries like Carbon Direct, WREN, CarbonFuture, and South Pole.

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What if making the right food choices could be an effective tool for addressing a range of global challenges?

Let’s start with climate change. While it presents our planet with existential challenges, biodiversity loss, desertification, and water scarcity should be of equal concern—they’re all connected.

Instead of seeking singular solutions, we must develop a holistic approach, one that channel our collective energies and achieve positive impacts where they matter most.

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About

The Lexicon™ is a California-based nonprofit founded in 2009 with a focus on positive solutions for a more sustainable planet.

For the past five years, it has developed an “activator for good ideas” with support from Food at Google. This model gathers domain experts from over 1,000 companies and organizations working at the intersection of food, agriculture, conservation, and climate change.

Together, the community has reached consensus on strategies that respond to challenges across multiple domain areas, including biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, food packaging, aquaculture, and the missing middle in supply chains for meat.

Lexicon of Food is the first public release of that work.

 

Agrobiodiversity

Over half the world’s agricultural production comes from only three crops. Can we bring greater diversity to our plates?

Meat OS

In the US, four companies control nearly 85% of the beef we consume. Can we develop more regionally-based markets?

Single-Use Plastics

How can we develop alternatives to single-use plastics that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly?

Regenerative Agriculture

Could changing the way we grow our food provide benefits for people and the planet, and even respond to climate change?

Alternative Proteins

Can we meet the growing global demand for protein while reducing our reliance on traditional animal agriculture?

Food Packaging

It’s not only important what we eat but what our food comes in. Can we develop tools that identify toxic materials used in food packaging?

Featured

Explore The Lexicon’s collection of immersive storytelling experiences featuring insights from our community of international experts.

The Great Protein Shift
Our experts use an engaging interactive approach to break down the technologies used to create these novel proteins.

Regenerative Agriculture Principle 1

Ten Principles for Regenerative Agriculture
What is regenerative agriculture? We’ve developed a framework to explain the principles, practices, ecological benefits and language of regenerative agriculture, then connected them to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Food is Medicine

Food-related chronic diseases are the biggest burden on healthcare systems. What would happen if we treated food as medicine?

Fisheries

How can we responsibly manage our ocean fisheries so there’s enough seafood for everyone now and for generations to come?

Ecological Benefits

Mobilizing agronomists, farmers, NGOs, chefs, and food companies in defense of biodiversity in nature, agriculture, and on our plates.

Food Choices

Can governments develop guidelines that shift consumer diets, promote balanced nutrition and reduce the risk of chronic disease?

Aquaculture

Will sustainably raising shellfish, finfish, shrimp and algae meet the growing demand for seafood while reducing pressure on wild fisheries?

Lex Icons

How can a universal visual language to describe our food systems bridge cultural barriers and increase consumer literacy?

Welcome to the “FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET” game!

This game was designed to raise awareness about the impacts our food choices have on our own health, but also the environment, climate change and the cultures in which we live.

First, you can choose one of the four global regions and pick a character that you want to play.

Each region has distinct cultural, economic, historical, and agricultural capacities to feed itself, and each character faces different challenges, such as varied access to food, higher or lower family income, and food literacy. 

As you take your character through their day, select the choices you think they might make given their situation. 

At the end of the day you will get a report on the impact of your food choices on five areas: health, healthcare, climate, environment and culture. Take some time to read through them. Now go back and try again. Can you make improvements in all five areas? Did one area score higher, but another score lower? 

FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET will help you better understand how all these regions and characters’ particularities can influence our food choices, and how our food choices can impact our personal health, national healthcare, environment, climate, and culture. Let’s Play!

The FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET game allows users to experience the dramatic connections between food and climate in a unique and engaging way. The venue and the game set-up provides attendees with a fun experience, with a potential to add a new layer of storytelling about this topic.

Starting the game: the pilot version of the game features four country/regions: Each reflects a different way people (and the national dietary guidelines) look at diets: Nordic Countries (sustainability), Brazil (local and whole foods instead of ultra-processed foods); Canada (plant-forward), and Indonesia (developing countries).

Personalizing the game: players begin by choosing a country and then a character who they help in making food choices over the course of one day. Later versions may allow for creating custom avatars.

Making tough food choices: This interactive game for all ages shows how the food choices we make impact our health and the environment, and even contribute to climate change.

FoodChoices-Sylvia-Groceries-Screen
FoodChoices-Sylvia-YesNo-Screen
FoodChoices-Sylvia-Drinks-Screen
FoodChoices-Sylvia-DinnerPlate-Screen
FoodChoices-Sylvia-CharacterDescription-Screen

What we eat matters: at the end of each game, players learn that every decision they make impacts not only their health, but a national healthcare system, the environment, climate and even culture.

Pacific Biochar

Application

We’d love to know more about you and why you think you will be a great fit for this position! Shoot us an email introducing you and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Water Quality

Providing best water quality conditions to ensure optimal living condition for growth, breeding and other physiological needs

Water quality is sourced from natural seawater with dependency on the tidal system. Water is treated to adjust pH and alkalinity before stocking.

Learn how to improve

Smallholder Farmer

Producers that own and manages the farm operating under small-scale farming model with limited input, investment which leads to low to medium production yield

All 1,149 of our farmers in both regencies are smallholder farmers who operate with low stocking density, traditional ponds, and no use of any other intensification technology.

Learn how to improve

Worker Safety

Safe working conditions — cleanliness, lighting, equipment, paid overtime, hazard safety, etc. — happen when businesses conduct workplace safety audits and invest in the wellbeing of their employees

Company ensure implementation of safe working conditions by applying representative of workers to health and safety and conduct regular health and safety training. The practices are proven by ASIC standards’ implementation

Learn how to improve

Community Livelihood

Implementation of farming operations, management and trading that impact positively to community wellbeing and sustainable better way of living

The company works with local stakeholders and local governments to create support for farmers and the farming community in increasing resilience. Our farming community is empowered by local stakeholders continuously to maintain a long generation of farmers.

Learn how to improve

Frozen at Peak Freshness

Freezing seafood rapidly when it is at peak freshness to ensure a higher quality and longer lasting product

Our harvests are immediately frozen with ice flakes in layers in cool boxes. Boxes are equipped with paper records and coding for traceability. We ensure that our harvests are processed with the utmost care at <-18 degrees Celsius.

Learn how to improve

Deforestation Free

Sourcing plant based ingredients, like soy, from producers that do not destroy forests to increase their growing area and produce fish feed ingredients

With adjacent locations to mangroves and coastal areas, our farmers and company are committed to no deforestation at any scale. Mangrove rehabilitation and replantation are conducted every year in collaboration with local authorities. Our farms are not established in protected habitats and have not resulted from deforestation activity since the beginning of our establishment.

Learn how to improve

Natural Feed

Implement only natural feeds grown in water for aquatic animal’s feed without use of commercial feed

Our black tiger shrimps are not fed using commercial feed. The system is zero input and depends fully on natural feed grown in the pond. Our farmers use organic fertilizer and probiotics to enhance the water quality.

Learn how to improve

Increased Biodiversity

Enhance biodiversity through integration of nature conservation and food production without negative impact to surrounding ecosysytem

As our practices are natural, organic, and zero input, farms coexist with surrounding biodiversity which increases the volume of polyculture and mangrove coverage area. Farmers’ groups, along with the company, conduct regular benthic assessments, river cleaning, and mangrove planting.

Learn how to improve

THE TERM “MOONSHOT” IS OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE an initiative that goes beyond the confines of the present by transforming our greatest aspirations into reality, but the story of a moonshot isn’t that of a single rocket. In fact, the Apollo program that put Neil Armstrong on the moon was actually preceded by the Gemini program, which in a two-year span rapidly put ten rockets into space. This “accelerated” process — with a new mission nearly every 2-3 months — allowed NASA to rapidly iterate, validate their findings and learn from their mistakes. Telemetry. Propulsion. Re-entry. Each mission helped NASA build and test a new piece of the puzzle.

The program also had its fair share of creative challenges, especially at the outset, as the urgency of the task at hand required that the roadmap for getting to the moon be written in parallel with the rapid pace of Gemini missions. Through it all, the NASA teams never lost sight of their ultimate goal, and the teams finally aligned on their shared responsibilities. Within three years of Gemini’s conclusion, a man did walk on the moon.

FACT is a food systems solutions activator that assesses the current food landscape, engages with key influencers, identifies trends, surveys innovative work and creates greater visibility for ideas and practices with the potential to shift key food and agricultural paradigms.

Each activator focuses on a single moonshot; instead of producing white papers, policy briefs or peer-reviewed articles, these teams design and implement blueprints for action. At the end of each activator, their work is released to the public and open-sourced.

As with any rapid iteration process, many of our activators re-assess their initial plans and pivot to address new challenges along the way. Still, one thing has remained constant: their conviction that by working together and pooling their knowledge and resources, they can create a multiplier effect to more rapidly activate change.

Picture of Douglas Gayeton

Douglas Gayeton

Co-Founder
THE LEXICON

Picture of Michiel Bakker

Michiel Bakker

Vice President
Global Workplace Programs
GOOGLE

Eligibility, Submission Terms and Conditions

Sponsor

A Greener Blue Global Storytelling Initiative is sponsored by The Lexicon, a US based 501(c)(3) public charity.

Opportunity

Storytellers will join A Greener Blue Storytelling Collective to create stories for the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture with the FAO and its partner organizations. Members of the Collective will take part in a private online “Total Storytelling Lab” led by The Lexicon’s Douglas Gayeton. Upon completion of this online certificate program, members of the Collective will join seafood experts from around the globe in creating A Greener Blue Storytelling initiative.

Terms

Who can enter and how selections are made.

A Greener Blue is a global call to action that is open to individuals and teams from all over the world. Below is a non-exhaustive list of subjects the initiative targets.

  • Creatives and storytellers with a passion for food and the willingness to support small-scale fisherpeople and experts worldwide. This category includes, but is not exhausted in photographers, videomakers, illustrators, podcasters, and writers.
  • Food Activists working to change open sea fishing and aquaculture; 
  • Members of fishing and indigenous communities that support their communities, share their stories and protect their way of life;
  • Local and International NGOs work every day with actors across the whole value chain to create more sustainable seafood models.

To apply, prospective participants will need to fill out the form on the website, by filling out each part of it. Applications left incomplete or containing information that is not complete enough will receive a low score and have less chance of being admitted to the storytelling lab.

Nonprofit organizations, communities of fishers and fish farmers and companies that are seeking a closer partnership or special support can also apply by contacting hello@thelexicon.org and interacting with the members of our team.

Special attention will be given to the section of the form regarding the stories that the applicants want to tell and the reasons for participating. All proposals for stories regarding small-scale or artisanal fishers or aquaculturists, communities of artisanal fishers or aquaculturists, and workers in different steps of the seafood value chain will be considered.

Stories should show the important role that these figures play in building a more sustainable seafood system. To help with this narrative, the initiative has identified 10 principles that define a more sustainable seafood system. These can be viewed on the initiative’s website and they state:
Seafood is sustainable when:

  • it helps address climate change
  • it supports global ecosystems
  • it optimizes impact on resources and nutrient cycles.
  • it promotes a safe growing environment for safe food sources.
  • it advances animal welfare.
  • it enhances flavor and nutrition.
  • it builds resilience and self-sufficiency in local communities.
  • it prioritizes inclusion, equality, and fair treatment of workers.
  • it preserves legality and the quality and the story of the product throughout the value chain.
  • it creates opportunities along the whole value chain.

Proposed stories should show one or more of these principles in practice.

Applications are open from the 28th of June to the 15th of August 2022. There will be 50 selected applicants who will be granted access to The Lexicon’s Total Storytelling Lab. These 50 applicants will be asked to accept and sign a learning agreement and acceptance of participation document with which they agree to respect The Lexicon’s code of conduct.

The first part of the lab will take place online between August the 22nd and August the 26th and focus on training participants on the foundation of storytelling, supporting them to create a production plan, and aligning all of them around a shared vision.

Based on their motivation, quality of the story, geography, and participation in the online Lab, a selected group of participants will be gifted a GoPro camera offered to the program by GoPro For A Change. Participants who are selected to receive the GoPro camera will need to sign an acceptance and usage agreement.

The second part of the Storytelling Lab will consist of a production period in which each participant will be supported in the production of their own story. This period goes from August 26th to October 13th. Each participant will have the opportunity to access special mentorship from an international network of storytellers and seafood experts who will help them build their story. The Lexicon also provides editors, animators, and graphic designers to support participants with more technical skills.

The final deadline to submit the stories is the 14th of October. Participants will be able to both submit complete edited stories, or footage accompanied by a storyboard to be assembled by The Lexicon’s team.

All applicants who will exhibit conduct and behavior that is contrary to The Lexicon’s code of conduct will be automatically disqualified. This includes applicants proposing stories that openly discriminate against a social or ethnic group, advocate for a political group, incite violence against any group, or incite to commit crimes of any kind.

All submissions must be the entrant’s original work. Submissions must not infringe upon the trademark, copyright, moral rights, intellectual rights, or rights of privacy of any entity or person.

Participants will retain the copyrights to their work while also granting access to The Lexicon and the other partners of the initiative to share their contributions as part of A Greener Blue Global Storytelling Initiative.

If a potential selected applicant cannot be reached by the team of the Initiative within three (3) working days, using the contact information provided at the time of entry, or if the communication is returned as undeliverable, that potential participant shall forfeit.

Offering

Selected applicants will be granted access to an advanced Storytelling Lab taught and facilitated by Douglas Gayeton, award-winning storyteller and information architect, co-founder of The Lexicon. In this course, participants will learn new techniques that will improve their storytelling skills and be able to better communicate their work with a global audience. This skill includes (but is not limited to) how to build a production plan for a documentary, how to find and interact with subjects, and how to shoot a short documentary.

Twenty of the participants will receive a GoPro Hero 11 Digital Video and Audio Cameras by September 15, 2022. Additional participants may receive GoPro Digital Video and Audio Cameras to be announced at a later date. The recipients will be selected by advisors to the program and will be based on selection criteria (see below) on proposals by Storytelling Lab participants. The selections will keep in accordance with Lab criteria concerning geography, active participation in the Storytelling Lab and commitment to the creation of a story for the Initiative, a GoPro Camera to use to complete the storytelling lab and document their story. These recipients will be asked to sign an acceptance letter with terms of use and condition to receive the camera. 

The Lexicon provides video editors, graphic designers, and animators to support the participants to complete their stories.

The submitted stories will be showcased during international and local events, starting from the closing event of the International Year of Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 in Rome, in January 2023. The authors of the stories will be credited and may be invited to join.

All selection criteria

Storytelling lab participation:

Applicants that will be granted access to the storytelling Lab will be evaluated based on the entries they provided in the online form, and in particular:

  • The completeness of their form
  • The relevance of their story (coherence with the main goal of the initiative and 10 principles)
  • Written motivation explained
  • Geography (the initiative aims at showcasing stories from all over the world so the mix of locations will be a factor that the selection committee will take into account)
 

Applications will be evaluated by a team of 4 judges from The Lexicon, GSSI and the team of IYAFA (Selection committee).

When selecting applications, the call promoters may request additional documentation or interviews both for the purpose of verifying compliance with eligibility requirements and to facilitate proposal evaluation.

Camera recipients:

Participants to the Storytelling Lab who will be given a GoPro camera will be selected based on:

  • Quality of the story (coherence with the initiative and the 10 principles)
  • Motivation demonstrated during the interaction in the online class
  • Participation in the online class (participants that will attend less than 4 classes will be automatically excluded)
 

The evaluation will be carried out by a team of 4 judges from The Lexicon, GSSI and the team of IYAFA (Selection committee).

Incidental expenses and all other costs and expenses which are not specifically listed in these Official Rules but which may be associated with the acceptance, receipt and use of the Storytelling Lab and the camera are solely the responsibility of the respective participants and are not covered by The Lexicon or any of the A Greener Blue partners.

All participants who receive a Camera are required to sign an agreement allowing GoPro for a Cause, The Lexicon and GSSI to utilize the films for A Greener Blue and their promotional purposes. All participants will be required to an agreement to upload their footage into the shared drive of The Lexicon and make the stories, films and images available for The Lexicon and the promoting partners of A Greener Blue.

Additional Limitations

Selection and distribution of the camera is non-transferable. No substitution or cash equivalent of the cameras is granted. The Lexicon and its respective partners and representatives are not responsible for any typographical or other errors in the offer or administration of the Initiative, including, but not limited to, errors in any printing or posting or the Official Rules, the selection and announcement of any selected participant, or the distribution of any equipment. Any attempt to damage the content or operation of this Initiative is unlawful and subject to possible legal action by The Lexicon. The Lexicon reserves the right to terminate, suspend or amend the Initiative, without notice, and for any reason, including, without limitation, if The Lexicon determines that the Lab cannot be conducted as planned or should a virus, bug, tampering or unauthorized intervention, technical failure or other cause beyond The Lexicon’s control corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Contest. In the event any tampering or unauthorized intervention may have occurred, The Lexicon reserves the right to void suspect entries at issue.

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