Mosan has been a proud collaborator with the Guatemalan NGO Vivamos Mejor since 2020. Vivamos Mejor is dedicated to fostering agroecological practices and ecological restoration, working directly with smallholder farmers and families across Guatemala.
Between 2021 and 2024, a 3-year research partnership was conducted with ETH Zurich’s Sustainable Agroecosystems group, Mosan, and Vivamos Mejor. The Sustainable Agroecosystems group at ETH, with leadership of Prof. Johan Six are experts in carbon and nitrogen cycles, human livelihoods, and food security. This research focused on rigorous field trials and analysis of Mosan’s Biochar application in two key areas: reforestation trees and maize crops.
The findings were particularly impactful:
Reforestation trees:
- Mosan Biochar increased root weight by 60%
compared to chicken manure alone - The Biochar treatment showed a 10% increase in root weight compared to the synthetic fertilizer treatment (Basacote 6M slow-release fertilizer).
- Seedling Quality Indexes were the same or better compared to the synthetic fertilizer treatment.
These results are vital because robust root growth in reforestation trees is a key predictor of survival and resilience for trees after field transplant, especially in harsh environments.
Maize:
- Enriched Biochar resulted in a 25% increase in harvest compared to the synthetic fertilizer (20-20 Nitrogen Phosphorus)
- The research also confirmed significant increased moisture retention due to Mosan Biochar.
The promising maize trial results reveal a tremendous opportunity for farmers: adopting more sustainable fertilizers while also preventing erosion and significantly enhancing moisture and nutrient absorption.
Vivamos Mejor’s longstanding Impact in Lake Atitlán:
Vivamos Mejor has been a pivotal force in the reforestation of the Lake Atitlán region for over 20 years. This area faces severe deforestation, which is a primary cause of erosion and the depletion of underground water reserves. The growing population’s reliance on firewood for cooking fuel further endangers this critical ecosystem. Adding to this challenge, many existing reforestation initiatives often prioritize fast-growing species like pine and cypress, inadvertently overlooking native and endangered trees. Vivamos Mejor actively counters this by collaborating with communities to restore degraded land specifically through the reforestation of native and endangered species, like Aguacatillo (Ocotea salvinii), Mountain Cherry Tree (Prunus guatemalensis) and Guatemalan Fir (Abies guatemalensis).
However, climate change poses an increasing threat to these vital efforts. Irregular climate patterns, manifesting as unexpected droughts or excessive rainfall, are directly contributing to the decreasing field survival rates of newly planted trees, particularly native species.
Innovative Climate Adaptation with Biochar:
Given the remarkably positive effect observed in root growth with Mosan Biochar during the research, Vivamos Mejor is pioneering the application of Mosan Biochar in reforestation efforts. This strategic integration aims to increase tree survival rates in the field and enhance their adaptation to climate change by boosting moisture retention capacity. The Biochar regeneration tool is being applied to 5,000 trees, which will allow the reforestation of five hectares of land, marking a significant step towards more resilient and effective reforestation in Guatemala and serving as an example of innovative practices.
The Biochar has been incorporated into the growth substrates in June 2025. The young trees will be carefully monitored in the nursery as well as after their field planting which is scheduled for June 2026. Observations and data collection on randomized samples will include height and root development in the nursery stage and survival rate in the field.
Impact of Biochar Use:
The initiative will offset 1000 tonnes of CO2 from the actual planting of trees and roughly 120 kg CO2 permanently sequestered through the use of biochar in the soil. The broader climate impact goes beyond this, since through the application of Biochar, 1 tonne of contaminated sewage sludge is treated avoiding environmental contamination and emissions of over 1.5 tonnes CO2 from open air sludge decomposition in landfills.
The current survival rate recorded by the VIvamos Mejor is on average 70%, having been on a steady decrease in the past years given the climate change challenges.
A potential increase in the tree survival rate would result in direct economic savings and provide substantial long-term economic and environmental value through crucial benefits such as:
- Enhanced Carbon Sequestration: Generating greater potential for climate change mitigation.
- Improved Water Security: Accelerating the replenishment of vital subsoil water reservoirs, benefiting local communities and agriculture.
- Greater Ecological Resilience: Building a stronger, more biodiverse forest that offers increased protection against erosion and supports local livelihoods.
- Accelerated Ecosystem Service Delivery: Realizing benefits like improved soil health, air quality, and biodiversity much sooner and more reliably.
Outlook and Next steps of this Pioneering Partnership:
Looking ahead, Mosan and Vivamos Mejor are strategically planning to expand their collaboration. Vivamos Mejor, which already reforests more than 150 hectares of land each year in the region, is actively considering scaling up biochar application in its operations over the next few years.
