Sabon Sake

Regenerating soil through biochar

Sabon Sake uses agricultural waste to create microbe-enriched biochar that can regenerate infertile and degraded farm soils. The soil amendment is produced with agricultural waste from sugarcane. Sabon Sake uses thermochemical conversion technology to produce biochar, which is inoculated with microorganisms and used as a customised soil blend. This helps sequester carbon which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.

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Sabon Sake

Circular Strategy

Collaborate to create joint value, Prioritise regenerative resources, Rethink the business model

Sustainable Development Goals

3Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

13Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

15Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

"Growing food as medicine can be achieved and made accessible with healthy, regenerated soils.”-Audrey Darko

The Opportunity

Soil degradation is a common problem that farmers experience after years of farming their land. Most farmers in Ghana depend on costly chemical fertilisers to artificially boost nutrients and enhance their yields. The use of chemicals can cause further soil degradation, which in turn affects the nutritional value of the food that is grown.

Meanwhile, farmers either burn or openly dump agricultural waste, which could otherwise be used to rejuvenate degraded soil with nutrients and organic matter.

The Story

Audrey Darko was at Ashesi University when she started research into what would become Sabon Sake. The idea for the company was born after she read about the collapse of the sugarcane industry in Ghana. As a student of business and agriculture, and coming from a family with a passion for farming, Audrey felt personally connected to this topic.

She made a visit to a sugarcane plantation and discovered that, to support the industry, it was critical for farmers to improve the quality of the soil. Her ongoing research revealed that farmers produced tonnes of waste from which this value could be created.

The Solution

Sabon Sake produces regenerative soil solutions to help reverse infertile and degraded farm soils. The amendment is produced with agricultural waste from sugarcane. Sabon Sake uses thermochemical conversion technology to produce biochar, which is inoculated with microorganisms and used as a customised soil blend.

This sequesters carbon released into the atmosphere. Sabon Sake has partnered with agro- waste producing districts in the South Volta region, where they have easy access to waste produced as an agricultural by-product. Their location enables easy distribution of products to farms in other communities.

They organise knowledge-sharing workshops with farmers where they raise awareness of their soil blend and provide training on climate-resilient agricultural practices. Sabon Sake was the winner of the 2019 Climate Launchpad competition in Ghana.

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