🇮🇹 Happy Ground Heads to Rome for the World Food Forum

We’re beyond excited to share that Happy Ground has been shortlisted for the 2024 Transformative Research Challenge at the World Food Forum in Rome—joining a global community of changemakers reimagining the future of food.

Our focus? How biochar—a humble, soil-enriching material made from agricultural waste—can be a game-changer for water conservation and climate-resilient agriculture, especially in regions where food security is deeply tied to unpredictable rainfall and fragile soil.

A Global Stage for Farmer-Centered Innovation

The World Food Forum, hosted at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, brings together scientists, policymakers, youth leaders, and innovators who are shaping the future of food systems. This year’s theme—“Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action”—feels especially timely.

For us, getting shortlisted wasn’t just a proud moment—it was a chance to bring the voices of smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia into the global conversation.

Because when it comes to food security, the conversation needs to start with the soil.

Why Biochar Matters for Water Resilience

Our submission explored how biochar can help farmers adapt to water scarcity—one of the most pressing threats to agricultural productivity and food security in the Global South. Here’s how:

• Biochar boosts the soil’s water-holding capacity, helping crops survive longer dry spells

• It improves soil structure and reduces nutrient leaching, making irrigation more efficient

• It reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, which often pollute nearby water sources

• And it helps restore degraded lands, giving farmers a chance to grow more with less

In regions like Thailand, where droughts are intensifying and groundwater is under pressure, this matters more than ever. Biochar isn’t just a soil amendment—it’s a resilience strategy.

Bringing Thai Innovation to the World

Happy Ground’s work with smallholder farmers has always been about co-designing solutions that work in the real world—not just in labs. We believe the best ideas come from the ground up. And now, we get to share those ideas with the world.

From the rice fields in Lam Luk Ka to the sugarcane systems in Nakhon Sawan, our field trials have shown promising results—not just in yields and soil health, but in the capacity of farmers to withstand the shocks of climate change.

Being recognized at the World Food Forum tells us we're on the right track—and that there's growing global interest in scalable, nature-based solutions like biochar.

What’s Next?

We’ll be heading to Rome this October to pitch our research, connect with fellow finalists, and represent the spirit of Thai regenerative agriculture on a global stage.

We’re incredibly grateful to our farmers, researchers, and partners who make this work possible—and to the World Food Forum for giving grassroots climate solutions a platform to grow.

Let’s show the world what happens when you give farmers the tools—and the trust—to lead the way.