The Case for Biochar

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May 29, 2025

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India stands at a critical inflection point. With over 147 million hectares of degraded land, a heavy dependence on chemical fertilisers, and rising vulnerability to climate change, the country's agricultural future is uncertain.

At Ground Up, we believe the answer lies in a material as old as fire: biochar.

What is Biochar?

Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich substance produced from agricultural biomass through a process called pyrolysis. When applied to soil, it improves fertility, retains water, boosts microbial life, and—critically—locks away carbon for hundreds to thousands of years.

It’s not just a soil amendment. It’s a climate solution, a crop productivity enhancer, and a residue-to-resource innovation all in one.

Why Now?

India produces over 500 million tonnes of agricultural biomass every year, a vast portion of which is left unused or openly burned — a practice that contributes to over 300 million tonnes of CO₂e emissions annually through the release of CO₂, methane, nitrous oxide, and particulates (Anand et al., 2022).

In Maharashtra alone, 90% of sugarcane trash is burned (see above image), resulting in severe air pollution and soil nutrient loss (Times of India, 2025). This isn’t just an environmental issue — it's a missed economic opportunity.

At the same time:

  • Over 147 million hectares of Indian land is degraded (Bhattacharyya et al., 2015).
  • Climate change is projected to reduce India’s GDP by up to 9.9% by 2100 under certain scenarios (Kahn et al., 2021).
  • In 2022, India lost 191 billion labour hours due to extreme heat — with 64% of the losses in agriculture, equating to $219 billion in lost income (ILO, 2022).

Image from ongoing Ground Up product demonstration on sugarcane crop in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh

Meanwhile, biochar presents a powerful countermeasure:

  • Ground Up’s biochar is made from agricultural residues that would have otherwise been burned in the open fields, and provides a sustainable residue management solution for smalllandholders formers
  • Each tonne of biochar can sequester approximately 1.5-2 tonnes of CO₂ permanently .
  • Field trials show 20–120% increases in crop productivity, a 50–72% increase in nitrogen fixation,a 36% increase in soil organic carbon and significant improvements in water retention and microbial health.

Biochar is more than a soil input — it's a climate-resilient tool to regenerate India's agricultural systems and create long-term value across the farming economy.

Our Mission

Ground Up is building India’s biochar economy — developing industrial-scale biochar production hubs that convert underused agricultural residue into high-quality soil carbon. These hubs create shared value across the agricultural chain: supporting farmers, reducing emissions, and producing verified climate benefits.

By 2040, our goal is simple: put biochar in the hands of every Indian farmer.

We combine deep agricultural partnerships with scientific rigour and operational scale — ensuring that biochar becomes a mainstream tool for soil regeneration and climate action.

The Ground Up Approach

What sets Ground Up apart is our end-to-end model. We manage every step of the process — from biomass collection to biochar production to monitoring its impact on soil and climate. This allows us to deliver consistent quality, measurable outcomes, and real transparency.

Our approach isn’t just about carbon removal — it’s about making Indian agriculture more resilient, productive, and future-ready.

Follow the Journey

We’re just getting started. If you're invested in the future of agriculture, soil, or climate — we invite you to follow our journey as we build Ground Up.

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