About CharTerra

CharTerra provides advisory and consulting services to the agricultural and bioenergy community in western Canada. Previously known as AirTerra which was founded in 2009, CharTerra builds on the expertise of its seasoned professionals in the fields of biochar, bioenergy, soil amendments, horticulture, waste management and project management. CharTerra is pleased to work with First Nations and Metis organizations to support environmentally and economically sustainable projects in their communities.

Don Harfield, P. Eng.

President & CEO

Don is a seasoned executive, professional engineer, project manager, production operations & facilities optimizer, and researcher with over 40 years experience in waste management, oil & gas production, and the pulp & paper industry. He was the technical lead for the Alberta Biochar Initiative including two demonstration scale portable biochar production units. He applies his comprehensive knowledge to help clients navigate their way to success.

Advisory Board

CharTerra has a strong team of advisors who are specialists and professionals in their fields. They have a passion for biochar and contribute greatly to the applications, markets, and development of safe environmentally friendly biochars.

Our advisors contribute to the project team to assist on consulting projects with their skills and expertise depending on specific client needs.

CharTerra also partners with other consulting firms when appropriate.

Rob Lavoie, P. Eng.

Product Development & Marketing

Rob is a Biochar Product Development and Marketing Specialist with over 10 years experience in biochar product applications. Rob founded AirTerra in 2009 and developed the Soil Matrix brand of biochars for regenerative agricultural applications and home gardeners. He has over 40 years of experience in the petroleum industry and specialized in carbon sequestration through injection of CO2 streams into geological reservoirs. Rob is passionate about biochar’s soil enhancing benefits and its ability to sequester carbon from the atmosphere.

Richard Gibson, M.Sc. Plant Pathology

Controlled Environment Agriculture Systems

Richard is a Vertical Farms and Greenhouse Specialist with over 30 years of agricultural experience in private, multi-national, and government organizations. He has held leadership roles in field research, enterprise architecture and information systems design, life science marketing, product, and business development.

Patty Bretin, B.Sc. Agr. (Honors) in Environmental Horticulture

Horticultural Applications

Patty is an experienced horticultural resource highly skilled in the hands-on and technical aspects of horticultural crop production. She has worked in greenhouses, vertical farms and market gardens. Patty currently operates a greenhouse operation specializing in flower displays for commercial properties.

Patou Zeleke, P.Eng.

Project Engineering Associate

Patou is a seasoned project engineer with over 30 years experience in the petroleum and geothermal industries. Patou contributes to consulting studies, biochar related processes, and related bio-energy projects.

Preet Kang, EIT

Product Sales and Quality Control

Preet is a Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Alberta and in her final year was lead for the Capstone project in designing a mobile biochar laboratory which won the Ken Suri Memorial award for project excellence.

Collin Smith, M.BA., M.Sc. Information Systems, P.M.P.

IT Architecture and Related Research

Collin is an Information Technology consultant with over 20 years of experience delivering IT advisory services to high value clients. He enables client strategic initiatives through technology.

Scott Lundy, B.A. (Honours)

Strategic Support for Studies and Communications

Scott is a former Canadian military officer who served at home and abroad in various operational and strategic roles for 20 years. He is an experienced public relations professional and community builder who has worked with local, provincial and federal governments, an airport authority, a utility company, and a science and technology organization.

Timothy Harfield, Ph.D.

Strategic Support for Studies and Marketing

Timothy is Head of Product Marketing at ORO Labs AI. He is also the founder of Biochar Today which is a is a reliable source of research and related news information on the internet and social media.