Cotierra and Carbon Removal Partners secure $3 million to advance decentralized biochar

Cotierra, a climate technology firm based in Switzerland, has raised $3 million in a funding round co-led by Carbon Removal Partners and PINC, the venture arm of Paulig. This investment will support the scaling of Cotierra's decentralized biochar systems to a commercial level. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions, has applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials. These applications contribute to efficiency and waste reduction while addressing climate change.

The logistical inefficiencies and high emissions from transporting raw agricultural biomass to centralized processing facilities pose challenges for agricultural value chains aiming for decarbonization. Additionally, managing and verifying carbon sequestration across dispersed farming regions presents significant tracking and reporting challenges for stakeholders.

Cotierra's solution involves an integrated platform that combines decentralized reactor hardware with digital software. This system allows agricultural companies to produce biochar near the biomass source, providing robust monitoring, traceability, and reporting tools for carbon removal.

With the new funding and technological advancements, Cotierra is expanding its operations beyond the coffee industry to include other tropical agricultural commodities such as cocoa, cotton, and citrus. The company aims to make decentralized biochar a key component of regenerative agriculture in the tropics, transforming its field methodology into a reliable commercial product.