Rather than building new systems from scratch, the company is integrating biochar production into existing food processing infrastructure—a move that lowers the barrier to scale and reduces costs. Using palm kernel shells, a byproduct from its established nut processing operations, Releaf Earth produces biochar through pyrolysis, a method that locks carbon into a stable form that can remain in soil for thousands of years.
The advantages of biochar extend well past emissions reduction. When applied to farmland, it improves soil quality, boosts water retention, and enhances nutrient efficiency. For smallholder farmers, this translates into higher yields, lower fertilizer dependency, and new revenue opportunities through the sale of carbon credits. In field trials in Cross River State, farmers reported yield improvements of over 20%, alongside noticeable gains in soil health and resilience.
The system is designed for the realities of rural Africa. The pyrolysis units are largely energy self-sufficient, powered by heat from the process itself and requiring only minimal solar input. This makes them viable in off-grid settings, offering a practical solution for regions lacking reliable electricity but rich in agricultural byproducts.
With Africa generating over one billion tons of biomass annually, the continent has the raw materials and urgency needed to lead in biochar-based carbon removal. Releaf Earth aims to set a commercial blueprint with its own operations, then scale impact by helping other processors replicate the model.
The initiative is supported by major investors such as Y Combinator, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and AirMiners. Releaf Earth is also partnering with carbon registries, government agencies, and farming cooperatives to integrate biochar into national climate-smart agriculture strategies.
