Based in the United States, Carbon Roots International (CRI) is a nonprofit organization that suppers green energy in Haiti. "CRI was founded in 2010 to develop a viable model for the deployment of a sustainable soil amendment known as biochar in rural Haiti," they write on their website. "Over the course of several years of close collaboration with rural Haitian communities, CRI implemented field trails, developed appropriate technology, and ultimately expanded focus to include the production of renewable charcoal cooking fuel known as green charcoal."
Why SocialBusiness.org finds Carbon Roots International so interesting is its unlikely mix of business, aid, non-profit work and social change. All of these approaches bring something new. In 2013, CRi launched its for-profit piece called Carbon Roots Haiti. On the whole, they continue to receive funding from government agencies such as United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
Contact Information
Carbon Roots International website
CRI on Facebook
CRI on Twitter
CRI on YouTube
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Sustainable Soil Amendment
- CRI's biochar project can be replicated in other countries with similar rural communities to promote sustainable soil amendment.
- Renewable Charcoal Cooking Fuel
- CRI's production of green charcoal can inspire other innovators to create more options using renewable resources.
- For-profit Social Enterprises
- CRI's creation of Carbon Roots Haiti shows the potential for combining for-profit and non-profit work in social enterprises.
Where This Applies
- Renewable Energy
- CRI's projects in green energy can contribute to the growth of renewable energy industry.
- Agriculture
- CRI's biochar project has potential applications in agricultural industries.
- Social Entrepreneurship
- CRI's combination of a non-profit and for-profit entity in Carbon Roots Haiti can provide inspiration for social entrepreneurship ventures.
