Biochar is part of our Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge that is only coming to light with the commercialization by corporations that are spreading this process commercially. The process of creating black earth is more than 5000 years old. Indigenous populations globally, including many tribal nations, have continued to develop practices and use them in supporting systems and creating black earth. This example of pragmatic knowledge transfer through ancient trade routes spans the globe.

Indigenous farmers and gardeners, for example, still use practices via the homemade methods learned from their ancestors. Communities are also using these methods to enhance their soil. Today’s advanced techniques are employed by communities to improve the soil's ability to hold moisture and nutrients for the benefit of plants and to enhance crop yields.