Exploring how biochar connects global climate goals with local agronomic value

This post originally appeared on the Tellus LinkedIn blog.

Author: Luiz de Andrade, CEO at Tellus

Carbon removal is often discussed in technical or financial terms: megatons, crediting standards, verification protocols. But on the ground, its success depends just as much on physical processes, local infrastructure, and land-based realities.

In recent years, biochar has emerged as a method that bridges these two dimensions. Long considered a niche practice, it is rapidly gaining attention as one of the few solutions that can sequester carbon for centuries while actively restoring soil health. It combines the durability and traceability required by the carbon market with the kind of practical, visible benefits that matter to farmers and rural communities.

This intersection, where carbon removal and agriculture meet, represents a promising pathway for scaling solutions that serve both climate goals and those who work the land.

Biochar as a Bridge, Not Just a Credit

Biochar is produced via pyrolysis (a thermochemical process that stabilizes carbon by heating biomass in the absence of oxygen), stabilizing the carbon it contains. When applied to soil, it can store carbon for centuries. Recognized by certification standards such as Puro.earth and the European Biochar Certificate (EBC), it qualifies as a form of durable carbon removal.

But beyond its role in carbon markets, biochar also acts as a soil amendment. Numerous studies and field trials have shown that it can improve water retention, reduce nutrient leaching, and (depending on local conditions) support higher yields or lower input needs.

This creates a dual value proposition:

One side of the model generates high-quality carbon credits;

The other delivers agronomic benefits that are directly useful to farmers.

When designed thoughtfully, biochar projects can serve two very different economies at once, the global carbon market and local agricultural systems.

Practical Realities Matter

As with any land-based intervention, biochar’s success depends on more than lab results or lifecycle assessments. Its implementation must contend with practical conditions: the variability of soils, climate patterns, and the realities of working across diverse agricultural systems.

A key factor in this equation is technology. While biochar production systems have advanced, questions remain around scalability, consistency, and cost (especially in regions where access to advanced equipment or technical expertise is limited). Matching technology design to local needs and operational capacity is essential to ensure adoption and long-term viability.

These technical considerations are often underappreciated in policy or market discussions, but they play a critical role in determining whether biochar can move from pilot to practice, and from practice to impact.

A Model That Works in Multiples

One of the strongest features of biochar is its economic resilience. With two potential revenue streams, the sale of biochar as a soil input and the sale of certified carbon credits, projects can be more adaptable to price fluctuations, regional market differences, or seasonal variations.

This flexibility allows biochar producers to tailor implementation strategies to different contexts, combining climate and agricultural value in ways that suit local realities. It also reinforces the idea that carbon removal can be embedded within productive systems, rather than operating in parallel to them.

More importantly, it helps ground carbon removal in the kind of day-to-day reality that makes it visible, relevant, and sustainable over time.

Broadening the Lens on Carbon Removal

As carbon removal efforts evolve, there’s growing recognition that success depends on context, not all solutions are designed to serve the same needs, and that’s a strength. While some methods are optimized for high-volume carbon capture in industrial settings, others operate at the intersection of climate, land, and people.

Biochar is one such approach. It delivers durable carbon storage, while also improving soil structure, supporting agricultural productivity, and reducing pressure on synthetic inputs. In regions where land use, food systems, and climate resilience are deeply interconnected, this kind of multifaceted impact can be especially valuable.

What’s more, this convergence of benefits is not just a bonus, it’s a strategic asset. As demand grows for solutions that address both environmental and socioeconomic goals, biochar stands out as a tool uniquely suited to meet both.

Rooted in the soil, biochar offers a grounded yet scalable model, one that speaks to both planetary needs and local realities.