By Abby Crisp
I had the pleasure of interviewing some of the leading women in the biochar industry during the North American Biochar Conference. These conversations offered a deep dive into their remarkable contributions and explored practical strategies for broadening access to this field for others. Additionally, the complete recording of the Women in Biochar Panel, expertly moderated by Annie Nichols, will be accessible on the US Biochar Initiative website and Youtube channel in the coming weeks.
Overview
- Kristin Trippe, Microbiologist at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) (8.5 min read)
- Luisa Marin de Block, Country Director of General Biochar Systems (4 min and 32 sec read)
- Mechi del Campo, Head of Marketing at ARTi (4 min and 16 sec read)
- Annie Nichols, Director of Operations and Carbon Management at Pacific Biochar Benefit Corporation (4 min and 14 sec read)
- Deborah Aller, PhD, Soil and Crop Scientist at Cornell University (4 min and 55 sec read)
Conversation with Kristin Trippe
Abby: Could you share with us a bit about your professional journey and what sparked your interest in biochar research?
Kristin: It’s kind of funny because I went to graduate school for microbiology and environmental engineering, specifically focusing on using fungi to remediate persistent pollutants. And that was all done through trying to understand these organisms that are capable of these really cool and unlikely transformations of recalcitrant compounds. After completing my studies I started a postdoc at the USDA, where my research completely shifted to examining secondary metabolites in bacteria. Shortly after joining the USDA, a significant shift occurred: many senior members of my unit, who were foundational to its establishment, entered retirement. This led to five retirements in a short span.
One of the retirees, who had been working on a project related to biochar, approached me and said “Hey Kristin I think this suits well with your background in remediation. Is this something you’d like to carry on?” And I was like yeah, I’ve always been interested in remediation. So I took that project on with some collaborators at the EPA and immediately I got excited about biochar and was able to hire some folks to start some intensive biochar projects in our unit. While my passion for soil microbiology, ecology, and microbial biology remains strong, our work now encompasses biochar research as well.
So my background is really broad but I think that’s the cool thing about being a scientist is that you can keep learning and putting these new kinds of skill sets in your pocket. I actually got an email from a woman today at a university who has a biomedical background and she was like, I am really interested in doing a biochar field project and my initial thought was that’s crazy but also so cool, science gets people curious and studying new things.
Working at the USDA was an incredible experience because it allowed me to engage in interdisciplinary fields and make contributions to a variety of research areas, biochar included.
Abby: Could you share a milestone or project in your career that you found particularly rewarding or impactful?
Kristin: I think the most impactful contribution I've made is the development of Atlas. In 2016, a postdoctoral researcher in my lab, named Phillips, and I received a grant from the Climate Adaptation Science Center, which was known by a different name at the time. These centers, operated by the USGS, awarded us the grant to explore the effectiveness of biochar in mitigating drought conditions. Initially, we had prepared a comprehensive grant proposal, and the USGS team had really loved it. However, they said it would be so much better if you had a decision support tool on top of that.
Responding to their feedback, we developed a decision support tool that assists users in selecting the appropriate biochar for their specific crop types and soil requirements. This tool aims to guide them in making informed decisions about which biochar to use, its application rates, and how to implement these soil changes to address resource concerns. After refining our proposal with this addition and resubmitting it to the USGS, they appreciated the decision support component but decided not to fund the water-related aspects of our project.
So we ended up creating this decision support tool and I think it is really useful in providing information to both biochar producers about how they should be tooling their biochar for specific regional crops and regional soil problems. At the same time allows the farmer to say, “okay well I’m trying to grow wheat in pH 5 soils that are deficient in potassium, so if I plan to use biochar, maybe I want to think about what is the most suitable biochar type that makes sense for my cropping system.”
Thanks to the effectiveness of this tool, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in its effort to support conservation practices (notably through Soil Conservation Standard Code 336), has provided us with funding to expand the tool out to the whole country. We're now collaborating with multiple partners, including the American Farmland Trust, the US Biochar Initiative, and various universities, to roll out this tool on a national level and we are trying to secure additional funding from external sources to expand the tool globally.
So I’m excited about that and excited to work with these external partners who are just really awesome in helping us think through how these tools can be useful at the farm scale.
Abby: Wow that is really exciting. I remember watching a video of a run through on Atlas on the United States Biochar Initiative resources page and from first glance it seemed complex.
Kristin: It is complex, but it’s also really simplistic right. I think the cool thing about it is that farmers and agronomists do this all the time to figure out how to meet the nutrient or pH demands of their crops and soil types. So it’s not really any different from what agronomists have been doing with mineral soil fertilizer for decades. We are kind of going off that for biochar. So I love how it’s simplistic too and that folks already understand how it works. Hopefully the learning curve is not too steep.
Abby: What advice would you give women interested in entering the biochar industry?
Kristin: You know, finding your voice and carving out your niche is crucial. One of the toughest challenges is establishing collaborations and making a place for yourself. However, once you do find your space, even if initially it feels like you don't quite fit or you just need to keep showing up, it's essential to find other women who will support and advocate for you. When I began in my current role, I was predominantly surrounded by men. Intentionally, I've fostered an environment that welcomes more women, not just because I enjoy working with women—which I do, and I also enjoy working with men—but because I believe it's vital for those of us who are established to do more than mentor. We need to actively create and provide spaces where women feel comfortable, supported, and included in our networks.
Abby: What do you think are critical steps for gender inclusion?
Kristin: There are a lot of steps. And I think the first one is building community and making sure that community is diverse. Diversity is not something that just happens and it is not something that stays, it is work and it is hard work. We all need to be open to and comfortable with receiving criticism. Maybe it’s because I’m a scientist but criticism is part of making things better, right, when we send off our manuscripts, when we send off our proposals, when we send off our work to be evaluated, it's because we want people to critically evaluate it and give good feedback. And when you don’t have that process, everything falls apart. Crappy papers get published, ideas that have been iterated before get funded again, it’s important that we have this peer review process and diversity in a lot of ways is a peer reviewed process, but if people aren’t open to criticism, if people can’t be told “Hey you know this made me really uncomfortable”, or “I feel like you could’ve handled this in a better way”, if we are not open to that we are not growing and we aren’t doing better. So I think its a personal journey that everyone has to be dedicated to.
I think people are afraid to make mistakes, and I’m sure that there’s certainly people in our society, in the industry, in science, in academics, who will never overcome their intrinsic biases or they don’t want to. But I think that the more people that want to, the stronger our community will be.
Abby: Is there anything I didn’t ask you that you’d like to add?
Kristin: If you look at women in soil science, if you look at women in federal agencies, how they are promoted in comparison to their male colleagues, how they are recognized in comparison to their male colleagues, it’s dismal. I don’t know if you've read any of Dr. Asmeret Berhe’s work about diversity in science…
Abby: Hmm I don’t think so
Kristin: Oh my gosh, you should read some of her work, she’s awesome. She’s a carbon scientist, she usually is a professor at Merced but right now she is the Director of the Office of Science for the U.S. Department of Energy. She has written these amazing papers about women in science. She is a black woman who has gone through the ranks of science and so she’s written these great papers that I love. And outside my office I have a bulletin board that is all about diversity in science and it showcases a lot of the things that she has written.
One of the analogies that you always hear is about the leaky pipe kind of paradigm where it compares women, POC, or trans people in science or any people that are historically underrepresented in science. And its like “oh you know women or POC they fall out of the pipe because they want to be parents or do other things. And Asmeret Berhe says this is bullshit, it’s not a leaky pipe, it is an obstacle course, and we are constantly jumping over exploding bombs that we have to deal with everyday and it's not a leaky pipe. There are entire intentional obstacles that are put between us and success that we have to overcome and so it's not just about being a better person or being open to change. It’s also about working hard to change your institutions and to do that I think first you need to find a place in that institution and find safety in that institution (so you aren’t getting fired) and then speaking out.
I've created graphs to illustrate the promotion patterns of women within my agency. Unlike the academic progression of associate, assistant, and full professor, we operate on a pay grade system. Most scientists in the US, including those at my agency, begin at grade 12 and aspire to reach grade 15. Initially, the hiring at grade 12 is fairly balanced between men and women. However, as promotions to grade 13 occur, we start to see men slightly surpassing women in advancement. By the time promotions to grade 15 are considered, the disparity becomes more pronounced, with an 80-20 split favoring men over women.
At least, that's the case in the Pacific Northwest. I can't claim it's the same everywhere, but there's definitely something amiss with our institutions. This highlights a crucial issue: we're confronting not only people's intrinsic biases but also significant institutional barriers that are challenging to navigate and even more challenging to surmount. I'm not suggesting we should resign ourselves to discrimination; far from it. I believe it's essential to call it out at every turn, regardless of whether it leads to immediate organizational change. I refuse to passively accept it as 'just the way things are.' The problem isn't merely individual; it's systemic.
Conversation with Mercedes “Mechi” Del Campo
Abby: Could you share with us a bit about your professional journey and what sparked your interest in biochar?
Mercedes: My name is Mercedes del Campo, and I am from Uruguay, where I grew up in a large family of 12 siblings. One of my brothers, Bernando del Campo, moved to Iowa in 2007 to pursue his PhD in mechanical engineering at Iowa State University. There, he co-founded Arti with two of his colleagues. My professional background is in graphic design. Initially, I joined the company to assist my brother with designing a logo, creating presentations, and preparing PowerPoint slides. Little by little, as he required more assistance and as the company expanded, my role evolved. I began investigating the world of biochar, documenting biochar experiments, managing our social media platforms, and striving to understand the industry better. Over time, I developed a passion for biochar and all the solutions it offers.
As a communicator, I recognized the need to support this industry. Although it is filled with brilliant scientists, their expertise often translates into complex explanations that are difficult for the general public to grasp. I saw an opportunity to bridge this gap by translating scientific jargon into language that everyone can understand. My journey began with a simple desire to help my brother, but it quickly evolved into a mission to communicate the incredible potential of biochar to the world.
Abby: What advice would you give to women that are interested in working in the industry?
Mercedes: The aspect of the biochar industry that I most love is its diversity, which allows anyone to find their niche. For instance, as a mother of three who works remotely, I greatly appreciate the flexibility this industry offers. In the biochar field, you encounter a wide range of professionals—from scientists and agronomists to leaders of biochar projects in various countries, like Luisa who is spearheading a company in Mexico, and individuals with advanced degrees in sustainability, such as Annie. The diversity in professional backgrounds is truly remarkable. My role involves communication and graphic design, and within my company alone, we have engineers, sales team members, and marketing communications specialists. This variety suggests that regardless of your skills or interests, there's a way for you to contribute. The industry encompasses a broad spectrum, from large-scale companies to family-owned businesses, showing that there's room for everyone in the biochar sector.
Abby: Could you share a milestone or project in your career that you found particularly rewarding or impactful?
Mercedes: On the professional front, joining the IBI Academy last year stands out as a significant highlight. It was a two-week course that brought together participants from over 20 countries around the world. We all lived together in the same accommodation at a university, which allowed us to engage in conversations throughout the day with people from Africa, Latin America, Europe, and beyond. Each region presented its unique challenges, which was incredibly enlightening. For instance, I learned about the contrasting realities faced by people in Africa, where fertilizers are prohibitively expensive, and in India, where electricity costs are high but labor is cheap, compared to the issues we face in North America. Understanding these diverse realities deepened my comprehension of the global landscape and the specific challenges within the biochar industry. I found this experience to be immensely valuable.
Abby: What do you think are critical steps for gender inclusion?
Mercedes: I believe the first step should be to empower women by showcasing their achievements. We have excellent examples, such as Kathy Draper, the Director of Carbon Standards International, and notable figures like the CEO of GECA, Suzanne Allaire, who is a woman leading a prominent organization. It's crucial to highlight these organizations led by women. Furthermore, we need to encourage more women to join us. Personally, speaking with Caitlin Kelly greatly boosted my confidence, and she was instrumental in introducing me to the biochar world.
Abby: Is there anything I didn’t ask that you’d like to add?
Mercedes: I believe Arti has a significant number of women, partly because I started off as the sister of the boss, which in a way, broke the ice for more women to join our team. We have a very supportive and collaborative team environment. This has encouraged me to advocate for other companies to welcome more women into their teams. As Kristin mentioned during the panel, diversity isn't just about including women; teams benefit greatly from a variety of perspectives, making them more enriched and dynamic. Therefore, I also urge companies to embrace cultural diversity. With three offices located in the US, Ecuador, and Uruguay, our company is a melting pot of cultures, which I find to be truly beneficial.
Conversation with Luisa Marin de Block
Abby: Could you share with us a bit about your professional journey and your involvement in the biochar industry?
Luisa: My name is Luisa Marin, and I am the Managing Director of General Biochar Systems, a large-scale biochar production initiative in Mexico. Additionally, I serve on the board of the Instituto de Latinoamericanos del Biochar (ILBI).
Abby: What advice would you give to women that are interested working in the industry?
Luisa: My advice to women is not to feel discouraged or intimidated by the biochar industry. Even though it's not widely known and may appear challenging— you may be thinking, "I'm not an engineer, biologist, physicist, or agronomist, so how could I possibly contribute?"—there's a lot that can be learned and many ways you can make a difference. Don't let the fear of the unknown hold you back. Instead, join the movement and discover how you can contribute.
Abby: What was your experience meeting people, getting involved, did you face any challenges?
Luisa: My journey with biochar started from scratch—I had absolutely no knowledge of what biochar was. Gradually, through research, watching YouTube videos, TED Talks, and absorbing information in small bits, especially through videos that allowed me to learn about biochar, I began to understand the depth and breadth of the industry. I discovered the vast opportunities it offers and the multidisciplinary nature of the sector, which demands collaboration and a diverse range of skills, experiences, and knowledge.
Abby: Do you have any advice or steps that organizations can take to encourage more women to join their teams?
Luisa: If you are applying to or aspiring to join the biochar community or industry, do not feel discouraged. Similarly, for those in hiring positions, avoid discriminating against candidates who lack prior knowledge of biochar. After all, no one starts with initial knowledge in this field. There are only a few true experts, while the rest of us are learning as we go. Therefore, do not exclude someone for not being familiar with biochar or pyrolysis, as these skills can be acquired. Instead, focus on the soft and hard skills, as well as the attitude and aptitude the candidates already possess. Knowledge will follow for those who are eager to learn.
Abby: Could you share a milestone or project in your career that you found particularly rewarding or impactful?
Luisa: Setting up the factory in Guanajuato was a journey that began from scratch. Previously, we had embarked on a project in Bolivia two years ago, starting with ideation and implementation. Drawing from that experience, we decided to build this factory, purchasing machinery and starting everything from the ground up. The learning curve was steep but incredibly rewarding, as we have gained substantial knowledge since then. Additionally, we established the Latin American Biochar Institute in response to the noticeable knowledge gap. Despite the numerous efforts and initiatives throughout Latin America, they were fragmented. Our vision was to consolidate these under one roof, drawing inspiration from the US Biochar Initiative (USBI) and the International Biochar Initiative (IBI), who have supported this initiative from the start. If you ask me, I consider the formation of the Latin American Institute and rallying the team for the broader biochar initiative as our most significant achievements because without the team, we achieve nothing.
Biochar's regional nature means we work closely with farmers and local communities, aiming to expand nationally and then internationally. Our future goals include establishing two facilities in Mexico and one in Brazil.
Abby: What are your future goals for General Biochar Systems?
Luisa: Seeing the potential for waste revalorization in the state of Jalisco, especially with tequila production, there is a significant amount of residue generated. Although some companies utilize these residuals as gas for fuel or heating oil, there remains a vast quantity of residue that can be transformed into biochar. This is the reason we are focusing on Jalisco, where there are two potential options for establishing biochar production facilities.
Abby: Is there anything I haven’t asked you’d like to include?
Luisa: You know, ever since I learned about biochar and began to connect with people in the industry, I've noticed something remarkable. Many, if not most, of them are incredibly open and generous with their knowledge and ideas. They understand the years of effort it takes to gain this expertise, so they're willing to offer shortcuts to help others navigate the field or provide guidance. Now, when someone approaches me with questions about how I do things, where I get my lab results, or anything else, I'm eager to share that information too. For instance, I remember pestering this guy [points to the Oregon Biochar Solutions booth] for months, asking him to invite me to his factory because I had never seen a biochar factory in operation before. He was kind enough to say yes and spent half a day with me, showing me the installations, operations, and everything in between. That level of generosity is something I've only encountered in this field and this community.
Conversation with Annie Nichols
Abby: Could you share with us a bit about your professional journey and what sparked your interest in biochar?
Annie: I began my journey with Pacific Biochar in October as their Director of Operations for Carbon. Before that, I spent about a year and a half at Carbon Future, working with Pacific Biochar as a client. I was genuinely excited about the potential intersection of biochar with wildfire mitigation, sustainable agriculture, and carbon removal—it combined all my passions. Living in Bend, Oregon, we experience 2-4 months of smoke from nearby wildfires every year, so it's a significant issue for us. I view biochar as an incredibly promising and cool solution, both in what we're accomplishing at Pacific Biochar and through more place-based and distributed models.
Abby: What advice would you give to women interested in entering the biochar industry?
Annie: I would say, just do it. It's one thing to talk about needing to bring in more women, but there's so much opportunity here. The biochar industry is relatively new, emerging around the same time as carbon markets began to grow. This means many companies, including Pacific Biochar, operate remotely, offering considerable flexibility. This flexibility is crucial for women with children or other responsibilities. One of the other attendees mentioned family leave, which is something the industry can offer more of. Additionally, there's a misconception that to be in the biochar industry, you must be in STEM or an engineer. However, my career has evolved through various fields, including green buildings, sustainable agriculture, and now biochar. You don't need to be a scientist or engineer to be productive and valued in this industry. There are many roles in sales, marketing, and communication. I love to talk and am passionate about carbon, which is how I found my way here. But don't be intimidated if you think, "I don't have a PhD or an engineering degree." There's a wealth of opportunity and flexibility in this space, and while you may not know everything initially, it's relatively easy to learn.
After the panel, someone asked me for advice for women, but the responsibility shouldn't rest solely on women; men in the space need to be involved too. In many diversity initiatives, it seems like if a person speaks out, they're then burdened with the additional work of driving that initiative, often without compensation. It's about their passion and recognizing the industry's needs. The question should also be, "What advice do you have for men on how to involve more of their female colleagues?" Too often, the burden is placed on women when, in reality, it requires effort from everyone.
Abby: Could you share a milestone or project in your career that you found particularly rewarding or impactful?
Annie: Actually just last week (February 11), cdr.fyi, a database of all the durable carbon removal transactions that take place over the year, named Pacific Biochar the #1 durable CDR supplier in 2023, making up 21% of total global deliveries of carbon removal credits, which is incredible. To date they have removed 26,000 tons of CO2 equivalent, which is quite rewarding. Although I only joined Pacific Biochar in October, all the credits are issued at the end of each quarter, and I have been working with them on this project for about two years now. It feels very validating to be leading the pack. I think we can attribute that to our CEO Josiah, who is an innovator and I think he saw the potential early on and saw the potential in me to take over as Director of Operations in Carbon. The effort to get those credits issued last year, particularly in the rush towards the end of December, was intense. Seeing our hard work acknowledged and announced on cdr.fyi today is immensely validating.
Abby: What do you think are critical steps for gender inclusion?
Annie: There are many strategies, but first and foremost is highlighting the work of women. Both USBI and IBI excel at this during their conferences. I had the opportunity to speak, and it was noticeable that there was a greater gender balance among speakers compared to attendees, which is commendable. A point that Kristin made during a panel really struck a chord with me – the importance of inviting women in. I've often hesitated to apply for a job if I felt I didn't meet every single criterion in the job description. This is a mindset we need to change. Kristin emphasized the need to actively pursue talented women. If you come across a woman who is exceptional and would be a great addition to your team, reach out to her. They'll likely be eager to join an environment that values and supports them. As the industry grows, it's crucial to promote women, as they are drawn to companies where they see other women thriving. I'll admit, I'm currently the only woman at Pacific Biochar, and while it's a small team of five, I'm hopeful for a shift towards more inclusivity. Personally, I'm always excited to connect with other women in the industry.
Interestingly, my master's in sustainability management from Columbia University had a majority of female students, which reflects a trend seen in undergraduate environmental science programs as well. It suggests that sustainability fields attract many women, possibly due to a sense of altruism and concern for the planet and the impacts of climate change, which often disproportionately affect women. In the carbon and carbon removal spaces, there seems to be a better balance of gender equality. However, biochar, with its focus on production and engineering, presents a different scenario. We're witnessing the convergence of these two sectors, and even at this conference, there's a dedicated track on carbon removal. The challenge now is facilitating the transition of women from sustainability to the more technical aspects of biochar. It's a significant shift, but one I've navigated personally. Often, when asked how I achieved my position, my answer is "I knew the right people." While networking might seem like a cliché, it's undeniably effective for many.
Conversation with Deborah Aller
Abby: Could you share with us a bit about your professional journey and what sparked your interest in biochar research?
Deborah: I'm an extension associate at Cornell University and program coordinator for the New York Soil Health Initiative as well as a member of the board of directors for the United States Biochar Initiative. I am a soil scientist by training and since completing my PhD have been working in agricultural extension. I am passionate about both improving the lives of people and the health of our planet. I conduct applied research and coordinate extension and outreach activities with farmers to assist them in adopting more sustainable soil management practices, including the use of biochar, to improve farm productivity and resiliency to the impacts of climate change.
I’ve always been interested in science and the natural world that surrounds me. My academic journey began at Stony Brook University, where, through numerous hands-on experiences and international opportunities, I was able to combine my passion for the environment with my interest in other cultures as a double major in Environmental Science and Anthropology. This laid the foundation for my career in soil and environmental science, emphasizing human-environment interactions. After completing my undergraduate degree I had the opportunity to pursue my masters in Environmental Science and International Development at the University of Edinburgh.
This is where my interest in biochar started, after being able to conduct my master’s research at the UK Biochar Research Centre. At that time I saw, and still do see, biochar as a technology to improve water retention, soil health, and crop yields for small-holder farmers. After completing my M.S. I wanted to deepen my understanding of soils, as the foundation for food production and the livelihood for millions of people worldwide as well as a climate mitigation and adaptation strategy. This led me to Iowa State University, where I completed my Ph.D. in Soil Science and Environmental Science in 2017.
Abby: During the panel, you touched upon some challenges you've encountered as a woman in the biochar industry. I was wondering if you'd be willing to elaborate on those experiences?
Deborah: Overall I've been quite fortunate to have the experiences I have and the chance to excel and seize opportunities. However, as I mentioned during the panel, I feel there's an additional step that women often need to take to establish their credibility. Working predominantly with farmers, I find myself needing to demonstrate my expertise and skills more so than many of my male colleagues, whether I am in the field or giving a presentation. For instance, when giving presentations, I will make it a point to highlight my PhD, as it tends to gain more respect, especially among men. While I haven't really run into outright negativity or barriers because I am a woman, there have definitely been extra hurdles along the way. In order to get the same recognition or respect, I've had to push a bit harder and prove myself more than I feel I should have to, especially with certain people.
Abby: What advice would you give to women interested in entering the biochar industry, particularly in STEM?
Deborah: For me, I had very little confidence when I was younger, I always was very intimidated especially being surrounded by more men in the sciences and agriculture. But as I had more experiences and gained more knowledge, I learned that we [women] need to be more confident in what we know, but also acknowledge what we don't know. There's always something new for everyone to learn; we're all in a constant state of learning, together. So, I believe confidence is key for women in general, and it's something I've had to work on myself. It's not necessarily an innate trait for many of us. If I had to sum it up in one phrase, it would be to "be more confident."
Abby: Have you had any mentors or individuals in your scientific community who have uplifted or supported you?
Deborah: When I was in grad school, pursuing my PhD at Iowa State University, I found a strong sense of community. Along with several graduate school friends and under the guidance of a female faculty member who was our mentor, Dr. Emily Heaton—who's now at the University of Illinois—we formed a close-knit group. Dr. Heaton, someone I greatly admired, led us in securing a grant from the university to start a women's leadership program. This initiative was essentially a mentoring and empowerment program aimed at supporting female faculty, staff, or graduate students. We brought in speakers, women in high-level positions, to share advice and insights, which was incredibly rewarding.
In my current role at Cornell University, my supervisor, Dr. Harold Van Es, who is a male, has been an exceptional mentor. He's taken the time to discuss both my short- and long-term personal and professional goals, making sure to check in on how I'm doing, especially as the only female on our team. His support has been invaluable.
Reflecting on my journey, from my undergraduate days through to the current stage in my career, I've been fortunate to have both men and women as exceptional mentors. Having mentors is crucial. Mentors are someone you not only look up too but also feel comfortable speaking with. Interestingly, despite feeling like I have little experience and expertise to offer, I often have people approach me, saying how inspired they are by my work and expressing a desire to engage in similar projects. Maybe this is the confidence I mentioned? But it's been a realization for me, even at a relatively young age, that I am seen as a leader and mentor by others.
Abby: Could you share a milestone or project in your career that you found particularly rewarding or impactful?
Deborah: In the context of biochar, for me, it's not about a specific project. My work in agricultural extension, leading on-farm trials, and disseminating information to aid in the broader adoption of biochar on actual working farms is what truly resonates with me. Moving a practice or technology, in this case biochar, from the research scale to commercial farm scale, is incredibly rewarding. It's a testament to the fact that people are paying attention to the science, understanding the discussions, and are open to experimenting with this technology.
I find it crucial to extend the reach of this technology [biochar] beyond just the research scale —though, of course, foundational research is also vital. But taking it into the real world, increasing awareness, especially from a practical standpoint in agriculture, is something I find immensely fulfilling. I genuinely love engaging directly with producers to encourage the adoption of biochar and other sustainable practices.
Abby: Is there anything I haven’t asked you’d like to include?
Deborah: I mean, it's really about supporting each other, isn't it? Those of us already in the industry need to back the women who are showing interest in biochar and are eager to learn more. And as I mentioned during the panel, we're all in this together. The idea of women empowering women doesn't exclude men. In fact, we also need men who are committed to empowering women. When someone shows interest, we should do whatever we can to get them involved, whether that's offering them experience, advice, or support at any level. So, it's really about both women and men working together to empower women.
Copy of this article can also be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leading-women-biochar-sector-wide-industry-interviews-abby-crisp-mkbcc/