January 12, 2026
Kamyar Razavi, a writer for The New Climate publication, wrote an article entitled “Will 2026 Finally Be the Year of Biochar?“.
A summary of the article is as follows: Biochar—produced by heating agricultural or woody biomass in low-oxygen conditions—is gaining renewed attention as a climate solution. Advocates argue it can lock carbon away for centuries while improving soil health, reducing fertilizer use, and even filtering pollutants. Companies like Charm Industrial are deploying mobile pyrolysis units to convert corn stover and forest thinnings into biochar or bio‑oil directly at the source, avoiding costly transport of bulky biomass. Forest managers see potential in turning low‑value wood from wildfire‑prevention thinning into a valuable carbon‑sequestering product. Despite its promise, scaling remains difficult. Supply chains are underdeveloped, markets are still emerging, and many potential buyers don’t understand biochar’s benefits. Researchers, such as Dr. Tony Bi in UBC Clean Energy Research Centre (CERC), are exploring advanced applications—such as wastewater treatment—to expand demand, but these technologies are still in early stages. The global biochar market is growing rapidly, yet widespread adoption hinges on stronger policy incentives, greater awareness, and more robust commercial infrastructure. (Summary written with the assistance of MS Copilot).
Dr. Tony Bi, a former CERC director, was quoted by the author of the article: “Biochar is very porous, like a sponge, explains Tony Bi, a chemical engineering professor, and the former director at the UBC research lab. This means it is perfect for removing harmful particles and molecules from toxic compounds.”
He also noted that “a lot of the technologies are still at the pilot scale or the demonstration (scale). That’s why I say the technology still needs to be matured before we can get it deployed.”