US Biochar Initiative

The US Biochar Initiative (USBI) is advancing the production and use of biochar in industrial, agricultural and infrastructure markets to reduce biomass waste, grow the economy, and mitigate climate change. Biochars are fine-grained, highly porous charcoals that help soils retain nutrients and water. Biochar saves water. Biochar reduces dependency on chemical inputs. Biochar is an investment, not a cost. Biochar is decarbonizes the built environment and heavy industry. Biochar carbon can be used in construction, as filler, as pigment, as building element to reduce embodied carbon in everyday items. We can utilize above ground resources to solve many of our carbon removal and carbon management concerns. USBI hosts meetings, conferences, and workshops to discover practical uses of biochar in North America. Recent projects include: market studies; education materials; networking; demonstration projects; and coordination with sectors interested in research, production, and use of biochar including agriculture, forestry and wood product, biomass energy, organics recycling, building products and ecosystem services. USBI is a partner with the International Biochar Initiative and collaborates with other biochar organizations around the world. Our vision is a thriving biochar industry that supports resilience and decarbonization in agricultural, industrial, and infrastructure systems while sequestering carbon, growing the economy, and building sustainable circular systems. Join USBI at our next North American Biochar Conference, September 2025, in Minneapolis, MN.