## 3 Results and Discussion
### Potential Applications of Biochar in the NEA
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Strengths** & **Weaknesses** \\ \hline - Availability of dry feedstock with a homogeneous & - Farmers’ cooperatives have a life cycle that depends on qualitative dynamics between the members (e.g., trust, wellbeing perception). \\ - Farmers’ cooperatives are likely to receive support & - Continuous changes in leadership hinder long-term planning of projects. \\ and non-reimbursable financial aid from NGOs and international forest conservation initiatives. & - Difficulty in access to bank loans and services. \\ - Sufficient physical space available within processing centers. & - The associative model is rigid and restricts access to external investors or joint ventures. \\ - Ample distribution network for soil application of & - Difficulty in assembling competent people to manage, operate, or provide maintenance of new technologies. Lack of experience with pyrolysis. \\ - Members have experience in the use of organic soil amendments. & - Lack of structured learning or research processes to innovate with pyrolysis technology or biochar applications. \\ - Associative values (solidarity, cooperation) are complementary to carbon sequestration services, the & - Lack of experience in developing alternative sources of income or new business models beyond the sale of coffee and cocoa. \\ - Farmers’ cooperatives already have contacts with international customers potentially interested in reducing their carbon footprint. & - Farmers’ cooperatives are influenced by the flaws/weaknesses in the People’s Solidarity Economy Law. The level of government support is dependent on political ideology in power. \\ \hline \hline
**Opportunities** & **Threats** \\ \hline - Emerging carbon marketplaces may help to & - Energing carbon sequestration services provided by farmers. \\ - There are companies abroad with climate strategies, & as well as interested in reducing their carbon footprint and promoting social impact. \\ - There are low-cost, open-source designs for biochar production. & - Currently, biochar is not a product within the domestic market of agriculture or animal feed supplements. \\ - There is research and experience in pyrolysis technology and biochar uses in Ecuador. & - The need for high-cost certifications from external/private companies to monetze carbon sequestration services. \\ - Progressive removal of subsidies and rising prices of fossil fuels should spark interest in alternative & - Unclear initial investment costs and unavailability of technical support. There are no sales representatives of international manufacturers of pyrolysis equipment in Ecuador. \\ \multirow{-}{* **External**} & - Pyrosis technologies adapted to the use of residual forest biomass may not be able to process tropical agricultural waste, \\ - Synergies can be established in the intersection of carbon sequestration, forest conservation initiatives, & such as coffee husks. \\ - Green and gray infrastructure sector, and the animal husbandry sector. & - Use of biochar in domains other than the soil may break the carbon cycle and the ability to recycle soil nutrients. \\ - Pyrosis kilins could carbonize other agricultural waste (e.g., corn cobs, palm oil kernels) to add value. & - Market dynamics, e.g., the higher price of barbecue charcoal compared to the price of biochar for use in agriculture may stimulate its use for energy purposes. \\ - Green and gray infrastructure sector, & - High international demand for biochar may stimulate its exportation, breaking the circular local economy model. \\ - Green and gray infrastructure sector, & - Creating of new jobs and nonfarm sources of income in the agro-industry sector and rural areas. \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 5: Selected results of a SWOT analysis to explore constraints and prospects concerning implementation of pyrolysis facilities in farmers’ cooperatives of the NEA. for farmers' cooperatives.