Every farm is different. The soil type in the Lowveld behaves differently to the Highveld. A macadamia operation has different needs to a vegetable farm or a cattle operation. Biochar applied at the wrong rate, to the wrong soil type, without the right inoculation — is biochar that underperforms.
That is why B10’s approach to selling biochar is built around understanding your farm first, and making a recommendation second. No volume is discussed until we know your soil. No estimate is provided until we have sat with you, walked your land, and understood what you are trying to achieve.
This guide walks you through every step of that process — so you know exactly what to expect, and why each phase exists.
What makes B10's approach different
- Farm-specific recommendations Soil type, crop type, and hectarage determine everything — we don't sell the same solution to every farmer.
- An agronomist on your side Mhlengi Kambule provides on-farm oversight of application and ongoing advisory throughout the season.
- Try before you commit Trial options are available so you can see the results across a full growing cycle before scaling up.
- Transparent data sharing All trial data is shared with you throughout the collaboration — your results, your insights.
Phase 1
Initial Contact
We get to know you and your farm
The first step is always a conversation — unhurried, no pressure, and focused entirely on understanding where you are and what you want to achieve. This is not a sales call. It is us listening.
- A short phone call to understand your goals and your current knowledge of biochar — whether you are completely new to it or have been researching for months.
- A farm visit is scheduled at a time that suits you and your farming calendar.
No soil data needed at this stage. No commitment required. Just an open conversation to see if B10 biochar is a good fit for your operation.
Phase 2
On-farm consultation
A thorough, in-person assessment
This is the most important step in the entire process. We come to you, walk your land, and build a complete picture of what your farm needs. By the time we leave, you will have a thorough understanding of biochar, our product specifically, and what a realistic application programme looks like for your operation.
- We examine your specific requirements — crop type, soil type, and total hectarage under consideration.
- Any existing soil analysis is reviewed. If you don't have one yet, we can assist you in obtaining one — it is central to getting the application rate right.
- Our feedstock sourcing and manufacturing process is explained, so you understand exactly what you are buying and where it comes from.
- Batch analysis showing the verified carbon content of B10 Biochar is shared with you directly.
- Packaging, safe handling, and transportation requirements are explained clearly.
- The CULA verification procedure and deployment agreement are walked through in full — transparency is not optional at B10.
- Biochar application and inoculation options are discussed in detail, tailored specifically to your crop type and existing farming practices.
- Pricing is discussed openly, including how estimates are calculated based on transport, location, and application rate.
- Trial options and long-term collaboration opportunities are explored — these may also influence volumes ordered.
- A preliminary estimate per hectare is provided based on everything gathered during the visit.
Every farmer leaves this consultation with everything they need to make an informed decision — not a sales pitch, but a complete information picture.
Phase 3
Formal estimate and advisory
Tailored recommendations and next steps
Once your soil type information is confirmed, the formal process begins. Soil type is the single most critical variable in determining correct application rates — which is why the estimate only becomes formal once we have it.
- A formal estimate is provided based on confirmed soil type and all information gathered at the farm visit.
- A detailed application and inoculation advisory is provided alongside the estimate — specific to your crop and soil.
- A second farm visit is arranged, during which we introduce our agronomist, Mhlengi Kambule, who joins the advisory process directly.
- Long-term trial and collaboration structures are explored in greater depth — including tracking soil parameters across multiple seasons to generate valuable data for both parties.
- A trial agreement is structured and finalised with clearly defined soil health goals, expected yield improvements, input cost savings, and a realistic ROI and profit timeline.
The trial agreement is not a sales document — it is a shared commitment to measuring real outcomes. Soil health goals, yield targets, and ROI timelines are defined in writing before any biochar changes hands.
Phase 4
Payment, delivery, and agronomist visit
Getting biochar onto your land
Once the agreement is in place, logistics are finalised and the biochar moves. This phase is about precision — getting the right product to the right place, and making sure it is applied correctly from the start.
- Payment and transportation arrangements are confirmed and finalised.
- B10 Biochar is released and delivered to your farm.
- Our agronomist arranges an on-site visit to provide hands-on oversight of the application and inoculation process — available to all clients who want it.
- For trial and long-term collaboration agreements, Mhlengi takes baseline soil samples from both the biochar treatment area and a control field before any biochar is applied — establishing a clean, credible starting point for all future data.
Baseline sampling before application is critical. It creates the comparison point that makes your trial data meaningful — and is the foundation of any credible ROI calculation at the end of the season.
Phase 5
Long-term collaboration
Ongoing partnership and shared data
The relationship does not end at delivery. For B10, a successful farmer is the best possible advertisement — and that means staying engaged through the full growing season and beyond.
- Mhlengi Kambule remains in regular contact throughout the season, providing ongoing agronomic advice and practical support as needed.
- All trial data is fully transparent and shared with you on an ongoing basis — you always know what the results are showing, as they develop.
- Jaco van Staden, our sales manager, maintains regular contact to ensure a smooth overall experience and to support the gradual expansion of hectarage under B10 Biochar as your confidence and results grow.
Biochar is a long-term investment in your soil. The data generated over multiple seasons is genuinely valuable — for your farm's decision-making, and for the broader understanding of biochar performance in South African conditions.
Your B10 team
Two people will be constants throughout your B10 journey. You will know them by name before the biochar arrives.
Mhlengi Kambule
Agronomist — on-farm consultation, application oversight, baseline sampling, and ongoing seasonal advisory.
Jaco van Staden
Sales manager — your primary point of contact from first enquiry through to long-term collaboration and expansion.
At B10, you are never dealing with a call centre or a generic inbox. The same people who advise you at the start are the same people who follow up at harvest — because the relationship, and the data it generates, matters to us as much as it does to you.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the process take from first contact to delivery?
It depends on your readiness and your farming calendar. Some farmers move through Phases 1 to 4 in a few weeks; others take a full season to gather soil data and plan properly.
We work at your pace — rushing the consultation phase to speed up a sale is not something we do, because getting the application rate wrong costs you more than time.
What if I don't have an existing soil analysis?
It is not a barrier to starting the conversation — but it is essential before a formal estimate is provided. Soil type directly determines the correct application rate, and applying at the wrong rate wastes product and underdelivers results.
B10 can assist you in obtaining a soil analysis if you don’t have one, and this is discussed at the on-farm consultation.
What does a trial agreement involve?
A trial is a structured collaboration where biochar is applied to a defined portion of your land alongside an untreated control area.
Baseline soil samples are taken before application. Our agronomist monitors both areas throughout the season, and the resulting data — yield differences, soil health parameters, input cost changes — is shared with you transparently.
The trial agreement sets out clear goals, a realistic ROI timeline, and the terms of any long-term expansion should the results support it.
Is biochar a once-off application or ongoing?
Biochar is extremely stable in soil — it persists for hundreds to thousands of years once applied.
The initial application is the most significant, and subsequent applications are typically smaller top-ups as you expand the treated area or refine your programme.
Many farmers start with a trial hectarage and expand progressively as results accumulate and confidence grows.
What crops and farming systems is B10 Biochar suited to?
Biochar has documented benefits across a wide range of crop types and farming systems — from row crops and horticulture to orchards, pastures, and smallholder food production.
The application rate and inoculation approach are tailored specifically to your crop and soil type during the consultation. If you are uncertain whether biochar is a fit for your specific operation, the on-farm consultation is designed to answer exactly that question.
What is the CULA verification procedure?
CULA is the mobile platform B10 uses to track the complete lifecycle of every batch of biochar — from feedstock origin through production to the point of soil application.
It provides a verified, GPS-located, time-stamped chain of custody for the carbon removed. For farmers, it means the biochar you are applying has a documented provenance.
For corporate buyers of carbon credits linked to your application, it is the basis of verified carbon removal claims.
Ready to build a Net Zero strategy that holds up to scrutiny?
B10 works with corporate sustainability teams to structure verified biochar carbon removal — documented, traceable, and built for the regulatory environment ahead. Let’s talk about what your organisation needs.
