Converting crop residue into biochar on-site

The process improves soil health and yields while cost-effectively storing carbon

Spotted: US-based startup Applied Carbon is tackling climate change through a unique technology that turns waste biomass into biochar, a charcoal-like substance that safely locks carbon away for decades. 

The company’s mobile biochar production machine transforms agricultural crop waste into biochar on the fly. Uniquely designed for commercial use, it operates on a self-contained trailer pulled by a tractor to collect crop residue. The machine then uses a process called pyrolysis – where the leftover crops are heated in an oxygen-free environment and transformed into biochar. This new material is then enriched with water, nutrients, and microbes and returned to the field. The result is improved soil health, increased productivity, reduced fertiliser needs, and a long-lasting carbon removal and storage solution.

When talking to Springwise, Applied Carbon explained the inspiration behind the innovation: “After visiting hundreds of farms, we saw that it was very expensive to produce and ship biochar around the country. We realised that mobile agricultural equipment is the only type of system that can cost-effectively process bulk agricultural residue, so we designed our pyrolyser to operate in a similar way. By producing the biochar on-site, we eliminate the cost of transportation, which reduces the cost of biochar production significantly”.

The company has announced plans to deploy a fleet of biochar machines across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. This followed a $21.5 million Series A funding round led by TO VC.

Written By: Georgia King