The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is launching a new biochar pilot project in India in collaboration with climate-tech startup Planboo. The project aims to boost soil health, make farms tougher, and create new ways for cotton growers to earn income from carbon credits.

According to BCI officials, the pilot will test out scalable, farm-level production of biochar using agricultural waste. Often compared to a charcoal-like soil additive, Biochar is becoming a key tool for regenerative cotton farming because it improves soil structure, holds onto nutrients better, and increases water-holding capacity.

Highlighting biochar's major role in long-term carbon removal, climate experts suggest it contributes to about 92per cent of global carbon removals and could potentially store an estimated 6 per cent of annual greenhouse gas emissions in the long term. BCI expects these climate advantages to open up new carbon monetization paths for India's smallholder cotton farmers.

For the pilot, farmers will be trained on how to produce biochar, handle it safely, and apply it to the soil. Planboo’s digital monitoring system will help collect data on soil carbon levels, crop performance, and overall environmental results. BCI plans to evaluate these results to scale the model across other cotton-growing regions.

Bangladesh’s cotton industry is expected to watch the outcomes closely. Biochar applications could provide long-term benefits for restoring soil and improving farm sustainability in water-stressed areas. Industry analysts believe these kinds of regenerative approaches will support Bangladesh’s focus on circularity and climate-resilient agriculture goals.