Stories

Arukah's Biochar at Scale model has been highlighted in a publication on Promoting Private Sector Investment for Agri-food Value Chain Transformation in the GMS - as a practical example of how private climate finance can transform agri‑food value chains while improving smallholder livelihoods.

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We are grateful for the recognition of our model by the Asian Development Bank and the GMS Working Group on Agriculture, including the 6 member countries, and the technical assistance facility team.

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Across the Greater Mekong Subregion, millions of tonnes of rice husks and other crop residues are still burned in the open every year. This practice releases carbon and particulate pollution, while leaving farmers exposed to volatile fertiliser costs and increasingly unpredictable weather.

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The GMS case study highlights Arukah's inclusive revenue‑sharing model as a practical example of how carbon markets can be structured to align incentives for farmers, mills, and financiers, rather than treating farmers as incidental beneficiaries. In Cambodia, Arukah has commissioned Southeast Asia’s largest biochar plant together with local partners, transforming agricultural by‑products into durable carbon removal and climate‑smart fertiliser. By allocating 50% of gross carbon credit revenues to participating smallholder farmers, the project layers a new digital income stream on top of existing agriculture, turning residues that used to be burned into an asset for rural households.

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Under the hood, Arukah’s approach combines bankable industrial infrastructure with a fully digital measurement, reporting and verification (dMRV) stack. IoT sensors, computer vision, and integrated payment rails track biomass from field to kiln to farm, underpinning high‑integrity credits and enabling direct payouts to farmers at scale. For governments and development partners, this creates a new channel for private climate capital to flow into priority outcomes: reduced air pollution from avoided burning, improved soil health and yields, new skilled jobs in domestic equipment manufacturing, and greater resilience in agrifood value chains across the GMS.

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We are continuing to scale our systems level solution and welcome more partnerships with agribusinesses, cooperatives, financiers and policymakers who share a common ambition: to build a future where climate mitigation, farmer incomes, and food security in the Global South grow together, powered by technology and the underused resources already in our fields.

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To learn more or collaborate, please reach out at pathbreakers@arukahcapital.com.

In celebration of SG60, we reflect on an impactful first half of 2025 —

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1) Opening and operating the largest biochar plant in Southeast Asia - recently assigned an AA-BBB estimated rating by Sylvera;

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2) Securing a global first approval from Gold Standard for digital MRV in household biogas, for our first in market model of paying farmers directly for digitally verified activities - to date unlocking 2.5-4.5x emissions impact compared to farmers in a control village;

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3) Closing first time credit purchases by leading global and regional companies - some exciting announcements to come!

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We are grateful for everyone's trust and support for our audacious dream to scale climate action via poverty alleviation, and we look forward to continuing to build with likeminded collaborators, farmers and friends. The best is yet to come!

Arukah was spotlighted as a top 5 durable carbon removal (CDR) supplier in CDR.fyi’s Q1 2025 market update.

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Currently, biomass-based solutions like biochar account for 99% of all CDR deliveries.

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While Asia is relatively later to this segment; driving only 1% of 2024 transactions - we think 2025 is an inflection point: On the ground we are seeing growing supply and demand year to date - we are excited to be part of the contributions of our region in 2025 and beyond!

Arukah's focus on poverty alleviation as a catalyst for high integrity, sustainable climate action was spotlighted in Boston Consulting Group’s report, Unlocking the Full Potential in Carbon Markets: Pathways to Growth and Sustainability in Asia, building from the inaugural Green Circle Climate Forum.

Arukah is proud and grateful to be featured alongside global leaders including Climeworks, Macrocarbon, Puro.earth, Terraformation and Carbon Negative Shot, who each present unique solutions to overcome barriers and unlock opportunities in the market.
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We are grateful for this recognition and support for Arukah’s commitment to pioneering high-quality carbon removal projects that sustainably scale climate impact by creating tangible, long-term financial opportunities for smallholder farmers in the Global South.