EcoRestore Africa

The problem

Farmers across Southern Africa face rising fertiliser costs, declining soil productivity, water stress, and increasing climate volatility.

While biochar and microbial products already exist, many deliver inconsistent results because they are not adapted to local ecosystems. This leaves growers dependent on expensive synthetic fertilisers while soil health continues to decline.

EcoRestore Africa's approach

Restoring nature by rebuilding soil biology.

EcoRestore combines locally adapted microbial consortia with biochar to create biologically active soil restoration systems tailored to specific landscapes. Biochar provides a stable habitat for beneficial microbes, while indigenous microbial communities improve nutrient cycling, soil structure, water retention, and long-term ecosystem function. Rather than selling a generic biological product, EcoRestore develops site-specific restoration programmes that include soil analysis, microbial matching, implementation, and ongoing monitoring to restore degraded agricultural and water ecosystems.

Where it's used

Commercial farms, vineyards, regenerative agriculture projects, and ecosystem restoration initiatives.

EcoRestore works with commercial farms, vineyards, regenerative agriculture projects, and ecosystem restoration initiatives. Its flagship pilot is a two-year vineyard trial at Klein Constantia in the Western Cape, with expansion planned into regenerative agriculture hubs in Mpumalanga and additional commercial farming systems.

Impact

Why it matters.

Locally adapted soil restoration supports healthier soils, lower input costs, and climate resilience.

• Healthier soils

  Restores soil biology using locally adapted microbial communities that improve long-term soil productivity.

• Lower fertiliser costs

  Helps farmers reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers while improving nutrient cycling and crop performance.

• Climate resilience

  Strengthens water retention, ecosystem health, and agricultural resilience in the face of climate change.

Partners & ecosystem

Originally supported through Kinjani Lab.

EcoRestore works with a growing network of scientific, agricultural, and climate partners, including Klein Constantia, SoilScopes, iWater, Adsorb, Ratanang Agri Hub, and research collaborations with Stellenbosch University and UCT. The company also works with scientific advisors and climate innovation networks to strengthen validation, commercialisation, and ecosystem restoration.