Biochar and Soil Amendments in India: Durable Carbon Storage for Sustainable Agriculture

Introduction: Beyond Short-Term Carbon

The world’s carbon removal efforts often focus on trees and soils — vital, but vulnerable. Trees can burn, soil carbon can erode. True climate impact needs durability — carbon that stays locked away for decades or even centuries.

This is where biochar and other soil amendments come in.

Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich material produced by heating organic matter (like crop residues, wood waste, or manure) under low oxygen — a process called pyrolysis. When applied to soils, biochar not only improves fertility and water retention, but also stores carbon for hundreds to thousands of years.

For India — a nation where agriculture and waste management intersect — biochar represents a powerful, scalable, and high-quality carbon removal solution.

The 2025 Criteria for High-Quality Carbon Dioxide Removal highlight durability and environmental co-benefits as essential principles. Biochar checks both boxes.


 What Is Biochar?

Infographic titled “What is Biochar?” showing icons for heating biomass in a low-oxygen environment, improving soil fertility and water retention, and locking carbon in a stable form for centuries, with Anaxee branding.

Biochar is produced when organic biomass — crop residues, husks, twigs, or even municipal green waste — is heated in a low-oxygen environment. Unlike open burning (which releases CO₂), pyrolysis converts much of that carbon into a stable, solid form that resists decomposition.

When applied to soil:

-It enhances soil structure and nutrient retention.

-Increases microbial activity and root growth.

Infographic titled “Benefits of Biochar Application” featuring icons and text highlighting improved soil health, enhanced fertility, cost savings, and carbon sequestration, with Anaxee logo.

-Holds carbon in a stable state for centuries.

Simply put, it transforms agricultural waste into a permanent carbon sink.


Why Biochar Matters for India

1. Agriculture-Driven Economy

India’s 150+ million smallholder farmers generate vast crop residues. Many burn this biomass, contributing to air pollution and CO₂ emissions. Biochar converts that same waste into soil health and carbon credits.

2. Soil Degradation Crisis

Over 30% of Indian soils are degraded or nutrient-depleted. Biochar improves organic matter, pH balance, and water retention — directly improving productivity.

3. Climate Commitments

Under India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and CCTS (Carbon Credit Trading Scheme), durable carbon removal like biochar will be crucial to long-term decarbonization.

4. Circular Economy Alignment

Biochar ties together agriculture, waste management, and carbon markets — converting local problems into revenue-generating, climate-positive outcomes.


Biochar and Soil Amendments: What’s the Difference?
Infographic titled “Biochar & Soil Amendments for Farmers” displaying icons representing additional income, government support, soil health & productivity, and waste utilization, over an agricultural background.

While “biochar” often gets the spotlight, soil amendments is a broader category.

Type Description Carbon Durability Example Application
Biochar Pyrolyzed biomass, highly stable carbon 100–1000 years Crop residue pyrolysis for farm use
Compost Organic matter decomposition 1–10 years Manure or green waste for fertility
Enhanced Rock Weathering Silicate mineral application capturing CO₂ 100–10,000 years Basalt dust on farmlands
Organic Manures / Vermicompost Natural nutrient recycling 1–5 years Fertility boost, low permanence

Biochar stands out for durability, but its synergy with other amendments (like compost or rock dust) maximizes soil and carbon benefits — a strategy Anaxee is deploying at scale.


What Makes Biochar “High-Quality” Carbon Removal?

The 2025 Criteria for High-Quality CDR define three pillars for durable removals:

1. Measurement and MRV

Every tonne of carbon must be quantifiable, traceable, and verifiable.

-Biochar MRV involves tracking feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, and application rate.

-Anaxee’s dMRV system records all these in real time using mobile apps and satellite-linked systems.

2. Durability

Carbon in biochar is chemically stable. Studies show >80% of carbon remains sequestered after 100 years.
This makes biochar one of the most durable CDR pathways available today.

3. Environmental Co-Benefits

High-quality projects enhance soil health, reduce pollution, and improve yields.
Biochar projects align perfectly with climate justice and environmental integrity — avoiding trade-offs like monoculture plantations or fertilizer overuse.


The MRV Challenge (and Opportunity)

Biochar’s credibility depends on robust data — how much carbon is actually stored and for how long.
Traditional MRV struggles with:

-Inconsistent feedstock records

-Lack of local lab analysis

-Fragmented data management

Anaxee’s Digital MRV (dMRV) overcomes this through:

-Geotagged data on biomass source and pyrolysis unit.

-Automated reporting of application areas.

-Satellite imagery cross-verification.

-Blockchain-based data integrity (for future registry integration).

Result: Lower verification costs, faster credit issuance, and traceable impact.


Anaxee’s Biochar and Soil Amendment Model

Infographic titled “Anaxee’s Biochar Workflow” showing five key stages — Feedstock, Pyrolysis, dMRV, Application, and Durability — represented by green icons on a beige background with Anaxee branding.

Anaxee integrates biochar into its Tech for Climate execution ecosystem, connecting farmers, technology, and markets:

1. Feedstock Collection via Digital Runners

-Rural Digital Runners mobilize local crop residue collection.

-Prevents burning and creates a carbon-positive supply chain.

2. Decentralized Pyrolysis Units

-Small-scale, locally operated pyrolysis units convert biomass to biochar.

-Supports village-level entrepreneurship.

3. dMRV Tracking

-Every batch of biochar is logged with feedstock details, GPS, timestamp, and application area.

-Farmers and buyers can trace carbon from field to registry.

4. Application and Soil Benefits

-Biochar applied on degraded farmlands increases yield, water retention, and soil carbon content.

-Results shared with buyers and verifiers through Anaxee dashboards.

5. Long-Term Durability

-Once sequestered, carbon in biochar remains stable for centuries.

-Regular satellite checks ensure no reversal or land-use change.

Anaxee thus bridges tech-enabled monitoring with community-centered implementation — ensuring carbon removals are real, durable, and fair.


Biochar in Carbon Markets

1. Growing Global Demand

Buyers like Microsoft, Shopify, and Carbonfuture are investing heavily in durable removals, including biochar. Credits fetch $100–$300 per tonne, far above typical forestry credits.

2. Emerging Methodologies

Standards like Puro.Earth, Verra’s Biochar Methodology, and Charm Industrial’s model are shaping a robust global market.

3. India’s Potential

With abundant biomass, low-cost labor, and supportive policy, India could become a biochar export powerhouse — provided quality and verification match global expectations.

Anaxee is positioning its projects to align with these premium markets, offering corporates traceable, durable, and community-positive credits.


The Co-Benefits: Climate, Soil, and People

High-quality biochar projects go beyond carbon:

Impact Area Description Example
Climate Long-term CO₂ sequestration, reduced burning Avoids stubble burning emissions
Soil Health Improved fertility, moisture retention, structure Higher yields for smallholders
Air Quality Eliminates crop-burning smoke Cleaner air in rural belts
Livelihoods Adds rural income via carbon finance Farmer revenue + local jobs
Circular Economy Reuses waste, reduces landfill Biomass → Biochar → Soil health

This is carbon removal that benefits both people and planet.


India’s Biochar Future

India’s next agricultural revolution won’t come from fertilizers — it’ll come from carbon-smart farming.
By 2030, India could:

-Produce 50 million tonnes of biochar annually,

-Sequester over 100 million tonnes of CO₂e, and

-Create millions of rural green jobs.

With the right infrastructure, MRV, and financing, biochar could become India’s signature carbon removal export.


Conclusion: Building Durability into India’s Carbon Story

Carbon markets are evolving fast. The next wave is about durability, traceability, and co-benefits — not just offsets.
Biochar embodies all three.

The 2025 Criteria for High-Quality CDR call for long-lasting, verifiable, socially just solutions.
Anaxee’s biochar model — integrating tech, communities, and dMRV — shows how India can lead this frontier.

As carbon buyers shift from “cheap” to credible, projects like Anaxee’s will define the new gold standard.


👉 Call to Action
Partner with Anaxee to scale biochar and soil carbon projects that deliver durable climate impact and rural prosperity across India.


About Anaxee:

 Anaxee drives/develops large-scale, country-wide Climate and Carbon Credit projects across India. We specialize in Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and community-driven initiatives, providing the technology and on-ground network needed to execute, monitor, and ensure transparency in projects like agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, improved cookstoves, solar devices, water filters and more. Our systems are designed to maintain integrity and verifiable impact in carbon methodologies.

Beyond climate, Anaxee is India’s Reach Engine- building the nation’s largest last-mile outreach network of 100,000 Digital Runners (shared, tech-enabled field force). We help corporates, agri-focused companies, and social organizations scale to rural and semi-urban India by executing projects in 26 states, 540+ districts, and 11,000+ pin codes, ensuring both scale and 100% transparency in last-mile operations. Connect with Anaxee at sales@anaxee.com 

 

 

Soil Carbon Projects in India: Pathways for High-Quality Carbon Removal with Anaxee

Introduction: The Carbon Beneath Our Feet

When we talk about climate solutions, the focus often goes to trees, solar panels, or electric vehicles. But there’s a silent climate ally right beneath us: soil.

Globally, soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and vegetation combined. Healthy soils are not just the backbone of agriculture; they are also a massive carbon sink. By adopting the right practices, farmers can draw down atmospheric carbon into soils—locking it away while boosting fertility, water retention, and resilience.

The 2025 Criteria for High-Quality CDR recognizes soil carbon as a key pathway, but with important caveats: measurement, durability, and community justice are critical.

For India—a country with over 150 million smallholder farmers—soil carbon is not just about climate. It’s about livelihoods, food security, and creating a new income stream through carbon finance.


What Is Soil Carbon Removal?
Infographic titled “What is Soil Carbon?” listing regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, organic soil amendments, and pasture management, with Anaxee branding.

Soil carbon removal involves changing land management practices so that more carbon is stored in soils. This can be achieved through:

-Regenerative agriculture – practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced tillage.

-Agroforestry – integrating trees into farmland.

-Organic soil amendments – compost, biochar, or enhanced rock weathering.

-Pasture management – rotational grazing that enhances soil cover.

These changes help soils absorb and retain more organic carbon, turning farms into climate-positive landscapes.


Why Soil Carbon Matters for India

1. Agriculture Is Both Vulnerable and Powerful

Agriculture contributes to India’s emissions (methane, nitrous oxide), but it is also extremely vulnerable to climate change. Soil carbon projects can reverse degradation, improve yields, and build resilience.

2. Rural Livelihoods

Most Indian farmers operate on marginal lands with tight incomes. Soil carbon credits offer new revenue streams through global carbon markets—helping farmers while fighting climate change.

3. Scale

With millions of hectares of farmland, even modest improvements in soil carbon storage can translate into gigatonne-scale removals.


What Makes a High-Quality Soil Carbon Project?

According to the 2025 Criteria, soil carbon projects must meet strict benchmarks:

1. Social and Environmental Justice

-Ensure farmers are not locked into harmful contracts.

-Guarantee fair benefit-sharing from carbon revenues.

-Protect communities from risks like rising input costs.

2. Environmental Integrity

-Avoid overuse of fertilizers or chemicals that harm ecosystems.

-Promote biodiversity, soil health, and water retention.

3. Additionality and Baselines

-Show that soil practices would not have been adopted without carbon finance.

-Set conservative baselines that account for natural regeneration.

4. MRV (Measurement, Reporting, Verification)

-Use peer-reviewed models and direct sampling.

-Monitor soil carbon changes with scientific rigor.

-Combine field sampling with remote sensing for accuracy.

5. Durability

-Soil carbon is reversible—droughts, floods, or practice abandonment can release carbon. Projects must plan for long-term adoption and risk mitigation.

6. Leakage

-Prevent displacement of practices—e.g., if reduced tillage here leads to over-tillage elsewhere.


The Challenges in Soil Carbon

Soil carbon is powerful but tricky:

-Measurement Uncertainty – detecting small year-to-year changes is scientifically challenging.

-Permanence Risks – carbon can be re-released if practices stop.

-Farmer Adoption – smallholders may hesitate without upfront support.

-Market Trust – buyers worry about inflated or unverifiable credits.

This is why soil carbon must be implemented with robust MRV, long-term planning, and community-first approaches.


Anaxee’s Approach to Soil Carbon in India

Anaxee is working to make soil carbon projects credible, scalable, and farmer-friendly. Here’s how:

1. Farmer-Centric Model
Infographic titled “Benefits for Farmers” showing icons for additional income, improved land productivity, knowledge and support, and climate resilience, with Anaxee branding.

-Farmers are partners, not just participants.

-We ensure clear contracts and transparent revenue sharing.

-We provide training in regenerative practices so benefits last beyond credits.

2. Digital MRV

-Our dMRV system combines:

  • Soil sampling protocols.

  • Remote sensing and satellite data.

  • Mobile-based farmer reporting (via Digital Runners).


  • Infographic explaining the dMRV Process—Digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification—showing steps with icons for measurement, reporting, and verification, branded with Anaxee.

    -This ensures every tonne of soil carbon is traceable and verifiable.

3. Risk Mitigation

-Long-term engagement: multi-year contracts to prevent reversals.

-Blended portfolios: combining soil projects with agroforestry for durability.

-Early warning systems for risks like droughts.

4. Scale and Reach

-With 40,000+ Digital Runners across 26 states, we can engage farmers at scale.

-From Bund plantations in central India to regenerative farming in Punjab, Anaxee ensures projects are grounded in local context.


Soil Carbon and Global Carbon Markets

Buyers like Microsoft, Stripe, and Frontier are seeking high-quality removals—not just offsets. Soil carbon, if implemented well, can meet this demand.

However, buyers demand:

-Transparency in MRV.

-Durability guarantees.

-Clear community benefits.

By embedding the 2025 Criteria, Anaxee ensures Indian soil carbon projects meet global expectations while delivering local impact.


Case Example: Bund Plantations with Soil Benefits

In Madhya Pradesh, Anaxee has been implementing bund plantations (tree planting along farm bunds). These projects not only sequester carbon in trees but also:

-Reduce soil erosion.

-Improve water retention.

-Enhance soil organic matter.

Farmers see higher yields, lower risks, and additional carbon revenue—a model that aligns with soil carbon criteria while benefiting communities.


India’s Role in Scaling Soil Carbon

Globally, soil carbon is seen as one of the most scalable and affordable CDR solutions. For India:

-The sheer scale of agriculture makes it a climate opportunity.

-Programs like National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture can align with soil carbon.

-Carbon finance can create new rural economies.

The challenge is ensuring projects are high-quality, transparent, and durable. That’s the gap Anaxee fills.


Conclusion: Soil Carbon as India’s Climate and Rural Opportunity

Soil carbon is more than a climate tool—it’s a bridge between global carbon markets and local livelihoods. Done right, it improves soils, strengthens food systems, and rewards farmers while delivering credible removals.

But the “done right” is key. Without robust MRV, durability, and justice, soil carbon risks becoming another failed promise. With frameworks like the 2025 Criteria for High-Quality CDR, we now have the roadmap.

Anaxee is bringing that roadmap to life in India—combining tech, trust, and last-mile execution to ensure soil carbon projects are globally credible and locally transformative.

The future of climate action lies beneath our feet. It’s time we nurture it.


👉 Call to Action
Partner with Anaxee to unlock India’s soil carbon potential. Together, we can build credible, farmer-first, and globally trusted carbon projects.

About Anaxee:

 Anaxee drives/develops large-scale, country-wide Climate and Carbon Credit projects across India. We specialize in Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and community-driven initiatives, providing the technology and on-ground network needed to execute, monitor, and ensure transparency in projects like agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, improved cookstoves, solar devices, water filters and more. Our systems are designed to maintain integrity and verifiable impact in carbon methodologies.

Beyond climate, Anaxee is India’s Reach Engine- building the nation’s largest last-mile outreach network of 100,000 Digital Runners (shared, tech-enabled field force). We help corporates, agri-focused companies, and social organizations scale to rural and semi-urban India by executing projects in 26 states, 540+ districts, and 11,000+ pin codes, ensuring both scale and 100% transparency in last-mile operations. Connect with Anaxee at sales@anaxee.com 

Rock Weathering: A Natural Climate Solution Transforming Carbon Removal

Rock Weathering: A Natural Climate Solution Transforming Carbon Removal

Introduction: Why We Need to Look Beneath Our Feet

As climate change accelerates, the urgency to remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere has intensified. Governments, companies, and climate scientists are searching for scalable, affordable, and permanent solutions. Among nature-based and tech-assisted methods, one solution that’s gaining traction yet remains under-discussed is “rock weathering.” This naturally occurring geological process may not sound revolutionary, but its potential to sequester billions of tonnes of carbon is drawing serious attention.

India, too, with its vast basaltic formations and mineral-rich terrain, is uniquely positioned to lead in the application of this method — especially with the emergence of Article 6 mechanisms and India’s own Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). But before we get to the market opportunities, let’s understand what rock weathering actually is.


1. What is Rock Weathering?

Rock weathering is the natural process by which rocks break down over time due to exposure to air, water, and biological activity. When it comes to climate, we are specifically interested in a sub-type called “chemical weathering” — particularly of silicate minerals.

Here’s how it works:

-Silicate rocks (like basalt or olivine) react with atmospheric CO₂ and rainwater.

-This forms bicarbonates, which are eventually washed into the oceans.

-Over thousands of years, the bicarbonates turn into carbonates and are stored in marine sediments — effectively locking away CO₂.

This process has been regulating Earth’s climate for millions of years, but it operates on geological timeframes. What’s new is the idea of “enhanced weathering.”


2. Enhanced Weathering: Speeding Up a Natural Process

Enhanced weathering is a climate intervention technique that aims to accelerate this natural CO₂ removal process by:

-Crushing silicate rocks to increase surface area

-Spreading them over farmland, grasslands, or degraded land

-Letting rainfall and soil processes do the rest

One of the key advantages is that this method is permanent, meaning the captured carbon doesn’t get released back into the atmosphere like in many short-term offset projects. And it does not require massive infrastructure.

Think of it as turning crushed rock into a carbon sponge.


3. The Science Behind It

The chemical formula for the reaction is often simplified like this:

This means one molecule of silicate binds with one molecule of CO₂ to form solid calcium carbonate and silica.

Some popular rocks for this purpose include:

-Olivine – Found in dunite, highly reactive with CO₂

-Basalt – Abundant in India’s Deccan Plateau

-Peridotite – Found in ophiolites, very high in magnesium silicates

The key is the reaction kinetics — how fast the rocks weather in a given climate and soil condition. Humid tropical environments like India offer excellent conditions for faster weathering.


4. Agronomic Co-benefits: More Than Just Carbon

Interestingly, this approach doesn’t just sequester carbon. It also improves soil health:

-Reduces soil acidity – A natural liming effect, particularly helpful in acidic soils

-Adds nutrients – Basalt contains potassium, calcium, and magnesium

-Improves water retention – Microporous crushed rock increases soil capacity

-Boosts crop yields – Some early studies show 5–10% increase in output

This makes it ideal for integrating with agricultural programs, especially in smallholder farming systems like India’s. Enhanced rock weathering could serve dual purposes: climate mitigation and rural soil rejuvenation.


5. Potential in India: A Hidden Advantage

India’s geology offers one of the largest contiguous basalt formations in the world — the Deccan Traps, spanning Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and parts of Telangana and Karnataka. These rocks are not just abundant but also underutilized.

Why India is Strategically Positioned:

If India scales this approach regionally, it could create a climate-positive agri-revolution.


6. Rock Weathering vs. Other Carbon Removal Methods

Let’s compare rock weathering with some other popular carbon removal approaches:

Approach Cost (USD/tCO₂) Permanence Co-benefits Maturity
Rock Weathering $50–$150 1,000+ yrs Soil, yield Emerging
Biochar $30–$120 100–500 yrs Soil fertility Mature
DAC (Direct Air Capture) $600–$1000+ 1,000+ yrs None Nascent
Afforestation $10–$50 Decades Biodiversity Mature
Soil Carbon $15–$50 Short-term Agronomic benefits Mature

What stands out is the permanence of rock weathering — it offers high-integrity carbon removal without the risk of reversal.


7. Current Research and Pilot Projects

Globally, organizations like UNDO (UK), Project Vesta (US), and Lithos Carbon (US) are conducting large-scale field trials. Some early learnings include:

-Fine particle size increases weathering speed

-Optimal pH and microbial activity boost CO₂ capture

-Yield gains create additional incentives for farmers

In India, few pilots are underway — mostly in Karnataka and Maharashtra, often piggybacking on regenerative agriculture or CSR programs. The current bottleneck? Lack of awareness, field-level deployment partners, and MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) frameworks.

This is where outreach-focused organizations like Anaxee can play a crucial role.


8. MRV for Rock Weathering: The Tech Challenge

Measuring how much CO₂ has been captured through rock weathering isn’t straightforward. It requires:

-Soil and water sampling – Bicarbonate concentrations, pH shifts

-Isotope tracing – Carbon isotopes to confirm geological origin

-Modeling weathering rates – Using geochemical software like PHREEQC

-Remote sensing and AI – For monitoring deployment and crop impact

Emerging dMRV platforms can help digitize this — using drone surveys, soil sensors, and machine learning to predict and verify CO₂ sequestration.


9. Policy and Carbon Market Integration

Enhanced rock weathering is already recognized by:

-IPCC as a negative emissions technology

-Puro.earth as a certifiable carbon removal methodology

-Verra is in the process of developing weathering protocols

-CCTS (India) can enable voluntary issuance in a co-benefit-linked framework

As India’s carbon market matures under Article 6.2 and 6.4, early projects in rock weathering can be positioned for future trading. Particularly if India adopts a separate track for durable carbon removals — as seen in the EU and US.


10. Risks and Criticism: A Balanced View

No solution is perfect. Rock weathering faces challenges:

-Dust inhalation – Crushed rocks need safe handling protocols

-Energy use – Crushing rocks consumes energy; needs renewable power

-Ecological impact – Mining new rock could harm ecosystems

-Measurement uncertainty – Requires sophisticated MRV, still evolving

Mitigation involves using mine tailings, renewable-powered crushing, and targeting degraded land for spreading.


11. What’s Next: The Road to Scale

Here’s how this can move from pilot to large-scale deployment in India:

  1. Mapping basalt deposits – Government geological surveys + remote sensing

  2. Farmer partnerships – Particularly in acidic-soil districts

  3. Integration with CSR/NbS – Projects by corporates looking for removals

  4. MRV stack development – With tech partners and carbon platforms

  5. Carbon credit registration – Either with Verra, Gold Standard, or future Indian registries

Anaxee, with its rural last-mile capabilities and tech-enabled tracking, is well placed to be an execution partner in this new frontier.


Conclusion: Turning Rocks into a Climate Asset

Rock weathering represents the fusion of deep-time geology with cutting-edge climate science. It’s quiet, solid, and permanent- just like the rocks themselves. And it could turn India’s volcanic past into a climate-secure future.

As the carbon market shifts toward durable removals, enhanced rock weathering offers India a rare opportunity: to lead the world by deploying a homegrown, natural climate solution — quite literally — from the ground up.


About Anaxee:

Anaxee drives large-scale, country-wide Climate and Carbon Credit projects across India. We specialize in Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and community-driven initiatives, providing the technology and on-ground network needed to execute, monitor, and ensure transparency in projects like agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, improved cookstoves, solar devices, water filters and more. Our systems are designed to maintain integrity and verifiable impact in carbon methodologies.

Beyond climate, Anaxee is India’s Reach Engine- building the nation’s largest last-mile outreach network of 100,000 Digital Runners (shared, tech-enabled field force). We help corporates, agri-focused companies, and social organizations scale to rural and semi-urban India by executing projects in 26 states, 540+ districts, and 11,000+ pin codes, ensuring both scale and 100% transparency in last-mile operations.

Field Workers for Agroforestry Project in India


Ready to collaborate on your next Climate or Carbon project?
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