Sugar cane receives first biochar plant in Minas; next stop is Goiás

NetZero, a company specializing in the production of biochar, announced in Minas Gerais the construction of its first plant aimed at sugarcane, marking an important step for the growth of the sector and for agricultural sustainability. Biochar is a type of charcoal produced by pyrolysis (heating biomass without oxygen) that improves soil quality, retains water and nutrients, and releases these elements to plants during periods of drought. According to NetZero CEO Pedro Figueiredo, the product can be applied to various crops, such as vegetables, coffee, and flowers, and aims to recover and make the soil more productive. According to him, the plant will be installed on a farm near sugar and alcohol companies, taking advantage of both the bagasse and sugarcane straw that would normally be discarded, reducing CO2 and methane emissions. "The goal is to develop a production of biochar from the straw left by producers, benefiting the use of the two main byproducts of sugarcane," ...