Energy

AI4Biochar

©FAO/Hoang Dinh Nam

Introduction	The project aims to provide Vietnam with an innovative decision-support tool to improve agricultural land-use planning and foster a sustainable biochar market. By avoiding the open burning and inefficient use of residues, the tool will enable their repurposing as biomass feedstock, reducing air pollution, conserving resources, and supporting climate-smart food production.
Country	Viet Nam
Start date	04/04/2024
End date	31/12/2024
Status	Activities Completed
Recipient / Target Areas	Viet Nam
Objective / Goal	The project, funded by FAO ELEVATE Programme 2024, aims to provide Vietnam with an innovative decision-support tool to improve agricultural land-use planning and foster a sustainable biochar market. By avoiding the open burning and inefficient use of residues, the tool will enable their repurposing as biomass feedstock, reducing air pollution, conserving resources, and supporting climate-smart food production. A farm-detailed geodatabase has been developed to assess residue availability and accessibility over space and time, map producers and users, and identify optimal sites for biochar production units. Artificial intelligence methods applied to satellite imagery, validated through field data, ensure accurate information on farm boundaries and cropping systems. The tool will also estimate how much biochar can be sustainably produced, considering soil health, food security, and local agricultural practices. Sustainability indicators are embedded: environmental indicators capture emission reductions, residue use, and soil carbon improvements; socio-economic indicators track income generation and job creation; and food security indicators ensure soil productivity is maintained or enhanced.
Partners	FAO Statistics Division (ESS)
Beneficiaries	Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viet Nam
Activities	Build a farm-level geodatabase on residue availability, users, and optimal biochar sites. Apply AI to satellite imagery, validated with field data, for accurate farm and crop mapping. Estimate sustainable biochar production considering soil health and food security. Embed sustainability indicators (environmental, socio-economic, and food security
Impact	The project creates an evidence-based system to guide investment, support farmers, and scale up sustainable biochar practices in Vietnam
Related publications	AI4Biochar: applying AI-driven field boundary recognition to the biochar sector 16/09/2025 Agricultural residues in Viet Nam are often burned, releasing pollutants. They could be used to produce biochar, a soil amendment that could enhance soil structure and sequester carbon, but the sector is hindered by a lack of data. To address this gap this paper introduces AI4Biochar, an AI-driven tool that map field, integrates production data and sustainability indicators, and streamlines biochar production, resource management, environmental impact assessment.