Biochar-based fertilisers benefit the climate, the environment and soil health. The “ETH-Soil” project, coordinated by the DBFZ, the german institute for biomass research, is contributing to the development of a sectoral innovation system for organic fertilisers in Ethiopia through transformative research. After five years, Ethiopian smallholder farmers are now receiving financial compensation from carbon sink certification for the first time. The project’s outcome is a positive example of resilience, autonomy and economic progress against a backdrop of recurring crises and supply chain shocks, such as those recently triggered by the conflicts in the Black Sea and the Gulf region.