Atlanta, Georgia
USA
Project Highlights:
- Water Stewardship: 30% water savings by shutting down water once every three days and using biochar adsorption.
- Waste reduction: CO2 emissions offsets: 1 Tn Biochar removes 2.5 Tn Co2 out of the atmosphere.
- Ecosystem protection: Biochar improves water and nutrient retention and improves microbial life and improves the soil conditions by neutralizing acidic soils at risk of desertification due to biochar’s basic PH. (SDG #15: Life on land)
Project Description:
BIOSORRA was founded in 2022 by Ines Serra (CEO and Founder) and Carla Jalife (CFO and Co-Founder) while they were completing their MBA at IESE Business School. Initially, Ines planned to gain professional experience before starting her own climate startup, but the urgency of addressing climate issues motivated her to take action immediately. Ines and Carla participated in various climate competitions during their time at school and were recognized as the top 5 winners for their decentralized energy project for marginalized communities in Pakistan. However, it was during a module on doing business in Africa at Strathmore University that they were inspired by observing farmers burning their waste, leading them to develop the biochar idea.
It was when they won the XPRIZE carbon removal competition provided BIOSORRA with the recognition and support needed to commit to the initiative full-time after completing their studies.
BIOSORRA has developed its own patented technology and R&D that captures waste CO2 that would have otherwise been emitted into the atmosphere. The biochar is injected into the soil improving its physical characteristics (neutralizing acidic soils at risk of desertification and increasing its water retention), while it also acts as a carbon storage that persists after soil application for more than 1,000 years. This reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by sequestering CO2 via the production and application of biochar into the soil. BIOSORRA accounts for Puro.Earth third-party verification and EBC standard verification on its patented equipment. For our first facility in Kenya, every ton of biochar produced has a CORC of 1.891 tonnes CO2-eq . A total of 87% of total carbon sequestered remains after life cycle emissions according to LCA written by third-party verifier LCA and audited by Puro.Earth. Additionally, BIOSORRA traces the location of each CO2 molecule injected in partnership with the third-party verification Carbonfuture.
To minimize logistics and CO2 costs, BIOSORRA strategically locates its operations next to a primary food producer, which provides the crop waste that is ater transformed into crop yield (Biochar). This allows the supply of concentrated and high-quality feedstock. The majority of the biochar produced is returned to the network of farmers who provided the feedstock, creating a circular agreement. The remaining biochar is distributed to farming cooperatives.