What is biochar?

Biochar is a biological method of engineered carbon removal, with a form similar to charcoal made from the conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment, known as pyrolysis. This method transforms carbon into its elemental form which degrades in soil over centuries, making it an ideal technology for scalable and permanent carbon removal. Beyond carbon, with its high porosity, considerable surface area, and large capacity to retain water, nutrients and contaminants— biochar can be used to avoid, reduce, and reverse degradation of agricultural, rangeland, and forest soils. The rapidly increasing interest in biochar has been born out of the search for measurable, high-quality carbon removal techniques. FFF is driven by the potential for the implementation of biochar technology to restore degraded land, improve forest and soil health, enhance ecosystem services, and revitalize rural economies.