An Introduction to Biochar
TL;DR: Biochar is a carbon-rich material that stores carbon for centuries while improving soil, reducing emissions, and managing waste. It’s a simple, scalable tool for climate and sustainability.
At its core, biochar is a carbon-rich solid made by heating biomass (plant material, manure, organic waste) in a low-oxygen environment—a process called pyrolysis. Unlike charcoal, which is made to burn, biochar is made to stay put, locking away carbon for centuries and doing useful work in the process.
What makes biochar unique isn’t just what it is, but what it does. It slows the carbon cycle. It improves soil. It turns agricultural and organic waste into a stable, valuable input. And it’s already being used by farmers, engineers, and communities worldwide.
What Biochar Can Do
- Store carbon for centuries in soil, construction, or materials
- Improve soil health, water retention, and nutrient efficiency
- Filter water, stabilize contaminants, and reduce methane emissions
- Generate clean energy during production (heat, syngas, bio-oil)
- Power circular systems that combine waste management with regeneration
From Amazonian soils to global strategies
Biochar isn’t new. Indigenous communities in the Amazon created long-lasting fertile soils (Terra Preta) using biochar centuries ago. Today, researchers and farmers are rediscovering this strategy and scaling it to meet modern challenges—from soil degradation to climate change and circular economy goals.
Where It’s Used Today
- Agriculture: Enhancing crop yields, reducing fertilizer needs
- Construction: Light-weight, carbon-storing building materials
- Sanitation: Converting human or animal waste into clean, odor-free char
- Climate strategies: Biochar as a verified carbon removal method
- Energy systems: Local heat and power generation during pyrolysis
Each of these applications is covered in depth across our site and book.