Sustainable Farming: Relieve Hunger in East Africa

2026 is shaping up to be an important year for our East Africa programs. We began the year by appointing a Regional Director for East Africa. John Mayieka joins us with experience in biochar systems and smallholder income-generating initiatives.

Based in Kenya, John is working closely with our Kenya and Malawi teams to strengthen strategy, coordination, and program planning across the region.

Our Verifier/Trainer teams in both countries recently completed in-person surveys with 100 farmers to better understand how biochar is being used and what outcomes farmers are experiencing.

As we look ahead, we are taking a careful look at our constituencies to ensure that our programs are truly helping smallholder farmers improve their livelihoods.

Biochar remains the foundation of our work, and farmers continue to respond positively.

Strategy Renewal: What Does Success Look Like?

As we update our strategic plan, we are clarifying what “winning” means for Warm Heart in East Africa.

We aspire to enable smallholder farmers in Kenya and Malawi to move beyond subsistence toward resilience and opportunity, using biochar as a foundation for:

• Improved soil health and crop yields

• Reduced dependence on expensive external inputs, especially fertilizer

• Greater food security and income stability

• Increased farmer confidence, agency, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing

We know we are succeeding when:

• Farmers adopt biochar voluntarily and continue using it independently

• Farmers see measurable improvements in yields, costs, and livelihoods

• Households begin generating surplus — food, income, and time — beyond basic survival

• We can demonstrate impact through data, case studies, and farmer testimony

The recent survey data will guide how we prioritize programs for the year ahead. We are also working to establish a more standardized set of regional metrics so that we can consistently measure adoption, yield changes, cost savings, income impact, and farmer progression across Kenya, Malawi, and the DRC.

On the Ground

In addition to biochar training, and as the budget allows, our teams are mentoring farmers to extend biochar use into livestock systems and orchard production.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Training continues in areas outside of active conflict. In January, the team completed the purchase of 50 hectares of land in Musumbu village. Biochar training in Musumbu and follow-up visits to the cocoa project on Musuku Mountain took place January 4–9 and February 1–6, 2026.

The team is:

• Germinating cocoa seedlings

• Weeding cassava and bananas

• Planting cocoa and fruit trees

• Using biochar to improve soil structure and moisture retention

In nearby Mulo village, Father Kambale Mbasuvyaki Baudouin is conducting weekly biochar training and follow-up sessions. He recently trained a group of secondary students from Graben near Lake Albert. The cocoa farm is also serving as a practical demonstration site for farmers in surrounding communities.

Kenya

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming is progressing steadily. The team is working to secure a consistent supply of food waste from restaurants and open markets to increase larvae production to volumes that can meet local buyer demand. Strengthening this supply chain will be key to scaling the program sustainably.

Malawi

BSF production is recovering and expanding. Replacement chickens have been delivered to our pilot farmers who are integrating biochar into their fields and will soon incorporate BSF into poultry feed. This pilot will help us measure feed cost reductions and bird health improvements before expanding further.

As we move forward, we are balancing continued training with deeper follow-up and stronger measurement. With high farmer interest and clearer strategic focus, 2026 will be a year of consolidation, learning, and targeted growth.

Your continued support makes this work possible. Contributions help us expand farmer mentoring, strengthen our measurement systems, and reach villages that are currently on our waiting list.

Thank you for making this happen.

With appreciation,
Dana, Michael, Evelind, and the East Africa Biochar Team