Zurich-based climate technology startup Cotierra has successfully secured €2.6 million ($3 million) in new funding to transition its decentralized 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 operations from initial field pilots to full commercial deployment. The financing round was co-led by PINC—the venture arm of international food and beverage company Paulig—and Carbon Removal Partners, with additional participation from institutional investors and climate-focused angels. This capital injection elevates the company’s total funding raised since inception to approximately $4.75 million, reinforcing supply chain decarbonization efforts across tropical agriculture.

A primary challenge confronting tropical agricultural value chains is the decentralized generation of residual 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, which often leads to inefficient waste management, degraded soil health, and substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional centralized processing models struggle with high transportation logistics costs and lack scalable methods to convert dispersed crop residues—such as those from coffee, cocoa, cotton, and citrus production—into stable carbon sinks. Furthermore, agricultural businesses face hurdles in implementing transparent, verifiable Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) frameworks for on-farm carbon removal.

To resolve these operational bottlenecks, Cotierra has developed an integrated hardware and software platform that pairs decentralized 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 reactor technology with a digital tracking infrastructure. The modular system enables agricultural partners and farmers to convert residual biomass into high-quality biochar directly at or near the source of generation. By combining localized production with robust digital traceability, the platform facilitates soil carbon sequestration, improves moisture retention and nutrient availability, and generates reliable data required for corporate emission reduction accounting.

The deployment of this capital will enable Cotierra to expand its commercial footprint across major global coffee supply chains and scale its infrastructure into adjacent tropical commodities. By securing backing from strategic corporate partners like Paulig, the company validates decentralized biochar as a viable instrument for enhancing long-term agricultural resilience, mitigating supply chain emissions, and meeting corporate net-zero targets.