Dr. Sara de Jesus Duarte (LinkedIn) is a globally recognized agronomist and soil scientist with over nine years of experience in biochar applications, sustainable agriculture, and climate-smart soil management. She holds a Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP) and has successfully led multidisciplinary projects across Latin America, North America, Europe, and Africa.

At the forefront of biochar innovation, Sara specializes in the development of carbon credit projects, including Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), Project Design Documents (PDDs), and alignment with leading certification standards such as Puro.Earth, Verra, and Reverse. Her work has supported the adoption of biochar by more than 140,000 farmers in Mexico and has contributed to climate strategies for global partners including Microsoft, Google, and Shell.

Her recent roles include:

• Leading R&D initiatives to evaluate biochar’s effects on soil fertility, water retention, and greenhouse gas mitigation.

• Delivering technical and feasibility studies for clients across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Africa.

• Serving as a consultant at GECA Environment, guiding the implementation of biochar projects and carbon credit certification.

• Conducting postdoctoral research at UNAM (Mexico) on the use of treated wastewater in agriculture and its impact on soil physical properties and climate change.

Previously, Sara served as CEO of Terra Fértil, a company focused on sustainable agricultural solutions, and as Soil Science Supervisor at ESALQ/USP, one of Brazil’s most respected agricultural institutions, where she mentored young researchers and led academic and field-based soil science initiatives.

Dr. Duarte is the editor of the forthcoming book "Biochar: Fueling a New Economy in the Developing World" (Taylor & Francis, 2026), and her work has been featured in Forbes, as well as in numerous peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.

Languages: Portuguese (native), English (fluent), Spanish (fluent)
Expertise: Soil Physical and hydraulic properties, Biochar systems, LCA & carbon markets, sustainable land use, climate mitigation, and technical leadership.

Sara Duarte, Ph.D.

Carbon Project Developer