A new collaborative venture—BiocharIND—has been launched by PRESPL, APChemi, and Intellecap to create India’s largest biochar-based carbon credit platform. The initiative aims to tackle the country’s agricultural waste problem while promoting sustainable farming and carbon sequestration.

India currently burns over 122 million metric tons of crop residue annually, contributing to severe pollution and soil degradation. BiocharIND will repurpose this biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More into biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More using pyrolysisPyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into bio-char, bio-oil, and pyro-gas. It offers significant advantages in waste valorization, turning low-value materials into economically valuable resources. Its versatility allows for tailored products based on operational conditions, presenting itself as a cost-effective and efficient More technology, helping avoid an estimated 183 million tons of CO2 emissions and removing another 102 million tons. The platform plans to establish five large-scale biochar facilities over the next five years, each processing 100 tons of biomass per day, backed by an INR 1.5 billion investment.

The first facility will be set up in the Punjab-Haryana region, producing 10,000 metric tons of biochar per year and generating around 25,000 tCO2e in carbon credits. The biochar will be used to improve soil health and increase crop yields by up to 30%, providing both environmental and economic benefits to smallholder farmers. Additionally, BiocharIND will produce up to 80,000 tons of wood vinegar annually, a byproduct usable in organic agricultureThis is a way of farming that focuses on using natural methods and avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Biochar fits perfectly into organic agriculture because it’s a natural soil amendment that improves soil health and promotes sustainable farming practices.   More.

The founding partners bring together complementary strengths—PRESPL’s biomass logistics and farmer networks, APChemi’s advanced pyrolysis technology, and Intellecap’s carbon finance expertise—to build a scalable, sustainable model. This partnership reflects a strategic effort to transform agricultural waste management and support climate resilience in India.