Ethiopian smallholder farmers receive first carbon payments via Artisan C-Sink certification

Nearly 300 smallholder farmers in Ethiopia received their first carbon payments, averaging 1,700 Ethiopian birr per farmer, through the ETH-Soil project. Coordinated by the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ) and funded by Germany's BMZ, the project uses Artisan C-Sink certificates for carbon sinks established by 2025. This initiative addresses land degradation and high synthetic input costs by utilising locally produced biochar-based fertilisers. The payout model ensures at least 60% of certificate revenues go directly to rural communities, with the remainder funding technical training and quality control. This marks a significant step for rural agricultural carbon finance in Ethiopia.