Biochar is a solid material produced by the thermal decomposition of biomass (such as wood, manure, or leaves) under limited supply of oxygen (O₂) and at relatively low temperatures (<700°C). This process, called pyrolysis, is a fundamental part of biochar technology; biochar production is modelled after a process begun thousands of years ago in the Amazon Basin, where islands of rich, fertile soils called terra preta (“dark earth”) were created by Indigenous people. (Source: IBI)
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) refers to technologies, practices, approaches, that remove and durably store carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. CDR is required to achieve global and national targets of net-zero CO₂ and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CDR cannot substitute for immediate and deep emission reductions, but it is part of all modelled scenarios that limit global warming to 2°C or lower by 2100. Implementation will require decisions regarding CDR methods, scale and timing of deployment, and how sustainability and feasibility constraints are managed. (Source: IPCC)
CDR methods differ in terms of removal process, timescale of carbon storage, technological maturity, mitigation potential, cost, co-benefits, adverse side effects, and governance requirements. Implementation strategies need to take into account these differences and potential trade-offs.
Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) is a climate solution that captures carbon from the atmosphere by using biomass - such as crop residues and other organic waste - that naturally absorbs CO₂ through photosynthesis. The biomass is converted into biochar through a process called pyrolysis, where it is heated at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. During this process, volatile compounds are released as gases, and the remaining carbon is locked into a stable, solid form known as biochar. This biochar can be safely stored in soils for centuries, while the process also generates useful co-products like renewable energy.
Plants absorb CO₂ from the air as they grow and store it as carbon in their biomass. Normally, this carbon would return to the atmosphere when the plants decay or burn. Biochar Carbon Removal changes this process by heating plant residues at high temperatures without oxygen (pyrolysis). This turns the biomass into a stable, carbon-rich material called biochar that does not easily break down. Each tonne of biochar can lock away about 2.5 tonnes of CO₂. When added to soil or used in construction, biochar keeps the carbon stored for centuries while also improving soil quality and strengthening materials.
Scientific models estimate that biochar could mitigate between 1–3 gigatonnes of CO₂-equivalents per year if widely adopted. This makes it one of the most scalable negative emissions technologies currently available (Smith et al., 2020).
Biomass residues from forestry, agriculture, and other sources are typically subjected to open burning or uncontrolled decomposition, processes that release carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), two potent greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere. Through pyrolysis, these residues can be converted into biochar, in which the labile carbon fractions are transformed into highly stable carbon. When incorporated into soils, this recalcitrant carbon pool exhibits mean residence times ranging from centuries to millennia, effectively acting as a long-term carbon sink. At scale, the conversion of gigatonne-level biomass flows into biochar has been modelled to achieve significant negative emissions potential, thereby contributing meaningfully to atmospheric greenhouse gas drawdown and climate stabilization (Woolf et al., 2010, IBI).
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming practice that goes beyond sustainability to actively restore and enhance the health of farmland and surrounding ecosystems. It improves soil fertility, water and air quality, and biodiversity, while producing nutrient-dense food and creating resilient farming systems. By focusing on practices that rebuild soil organic matter and sequester carbon, regenerative agriculture not only sustains land-based livelihoods but also contributes to climate change mitigation. Increasingly embraced by both farmers and consumers, it represents a natural and resilient approach to agriculture that benefits people, the planet, and future food security (Lobna Hajji Et. al. 2025).
Biochar improves soil fertility by enhancing nutrient retention, water-holding capacity, and microbial activity. Its porous structure reduces nutrient leaching, buffers soil acidity, and creates habitats for beneficial microbes. These effects lead to higher soil productivity, resilience against drought, and long-term organic matter stability (Lehmann et al., 2021; Joseph et al., 2021).
Biochar aligns with regenerative agriculture by restoring degraded soils, sequestering carbon, and enhancing biodiversity. It promotes nutrient-dense food production while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, helping farmers build resilient and climate-smart farming systems (Schmidt et al., 2021; Paustian et al., 2022).
Yes. Agricultural residues, forestry waste, food waste, and even sewage sludge can be converted into biochar, turning potential pollutants into a stable carbon-rich resource. This process prevents methane emissions from waste decomposition and supports a circular, low-carbon economy (Azzi et al., 2022; Lehmann & Joseph, 2021).