The Case for Biochar

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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.

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

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What is Biochar?

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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.

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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.

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Why Now?

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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).

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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.

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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).
  
  

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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.
  
  

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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.

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‍Our Mission

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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.

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

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

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The Ground Up Approach

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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.

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

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Follow the Journey

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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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