As the world grapples with rising food insecurity and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that trap heat in the atmosphere resulting in global climate change, there have been calls for urgent action.

Given that carbon dioxide contributes to most greenhouse gas emissions and crops need it for their growth, technologies that aid soil carbon sequestration — a process of removing carbon dioxide contained in the atmosphere through photosynthesis and storing it in vegetation and soils — have a double effect of tackling food insecurity and mitigating climate change.

These technologies include application of biochar, a charcoal produced from plant matter and used as soil manure, to aid soil carbon sequestration. Others include agroforestry, organic agriculture and use of green manure and mulching.

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