🌍 Tera Kisumu Makes Climate History: First African Project Validated on Riverse Carbon Registry
Kisumu, Kenya – In a powerful step forward for both climate action and green innovation in Africa, Tera, a fast-growing climate technology company based in Kisumu, has made history. The startup is now the first African project developer to receive independent validation on the Riverse carbon registry, a major international platform for verified climate action. With this approval, Tera is officially authorized to issue verified carbon credits, setting a new benchmark for environmental transparency and climate finance on the continent.
🌱 What is Tera and Why It Matters for Kisumu and Kenya?
Founded in 2024, Tera is a climate-tech startup pioneering biochar production in Kenya, using sugarcane bagasse—an agricultural byproduct—as its main raw material. The company transforms this biomass into biochar, a carbon-rich substance that not only captures CO₂ from the atmosphere but also improves soil health, increases water retention, and boosts crop yields.
Located in the heart of Kenya’s sugarcane-growing region, Tera’s facility sources feedstock directly from local farmers and sugar mills around Kisumu. This positions the company at the intersection of agricultural sustainability, carbon removal, and rural economic development.
"Our partnership with Riverse brings trust and transparency to Africa’s carbon markets, making it easier to attract financing, issue high-integrity credits, and create new jobs in rural communities," said Rob Palmer, CEO of Tera. "It’s a crucial step toward scaling carbon removal in a way that works for people and the planet."
🔍 How the Riverse Validation Works
The Riverse registry is a European-based carbon accounting platform focused on high-integrity carbon removal projects. Tera’s project underwent third-party validation by an accredited Verification and Validation Body (VVB). This rigorous audit confirmed that Tera’s carbon removal processes are scientifically sound and meet global standards for measurability, reportability, and verifiability.
Tera uses a digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (dMRV) system that tracks carbon data in real time. This data is stored on a blockchain ledger, providing full transparency for investors and carbon credit buyers, and boosting trust in the African carbon credit market.
🌍 What This Means for Africa’s Green Future
Tera’s success is more than a business win—it’s a climate breakthrough for Africa. Technologies like biochar offer dual benefits: long-term carbon sequestration and regenerative agriculture to combat food insecurity.
Tera’s Goals by 2030:
- 450,000 tonnes of biochar produced
- 1 million+ tonnes of CO₂ sequestered
- 900,000 hectares of farmland restored in East Africa
- Thousands of green jobs created in Kisumu and beyond
By linking climate finance with local impact, Tera offers a scalable model of sustainability that benefits people, the planet, and the economy.
💼 Opportunities for Climate Investors and Partners
Now that validation is complete, Tera is welcoming climate-aligned investors, carbon credit buyers, development agencies, and philanthropies. As demand for quality carbon offsets rises, Tera’s independently verified platform stands out for those seeking real environmental and social impact in Africa.
📌 Why This Matters for Kisumu and Kenya
This milestone puts Kisumu on the global climate map as a hub for green innovation and sustainability. It proves that African cities and rural communities can lead in climate solutions by blending local knowledge with global standards.
KisumuKulture celebrates Tera’s success as a proud moment for Western Kenya — one that connects climate resilience, rural empowerment, and international credibility. With visionary startups like Tera, the region is proving that Africa is not just a climate victim, but a climate leader.