In a major push toward industrial-scale biomass valorization, Jain Irrigation has formally launched the Jain Industrial Biochar Project in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district. Positioned at the nexus of climate mitigation and rural economic development, the project is designed to convert surplus agricultural residues into high-value biochar while unlocking participation in global carbon markets, including third-party certification platforms such as Puro.earth.

Maharashtra faces a chronic challenge of agricultural waste mismanagement, with an estimated 21 million metric tons of surplus residues generated annually. Much of this material—ranging from crop stalks to fruit-processing by-products—is traditionally burned in the open, releasing greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and black carbon into the atmosphere. At the same time, farmers across the state are contending with declining soil fertility and heightened climate stress, including erratic drought–flood cycles that undermine yields and income stability.

Jain Irrigation’s new initiative seeks to address both problems simultaneously. The project has established a structured supply chain to procure 100,000 tons of crop residues such as mango coir, corn cobs, and cotton stalks directly from farmers and local collectors. Instead of ending up in open-burning fires, this biomass will now be converted into 25,000 tons of stable biochar at the company’s facility. By assigning commercial value to materials once considered agricultural waste, the project incentivizes residue collection while preventing the emissions associated with burning.

The company expects the project to generate more than 50,000 carbon credits, creating a new climate finance pathway for industrial-scale biochar production in India. Farmers benefit immediately through residue sales and long-term through the application of biochar, which is known to improve soil structure, nutrient retention, and water-holding capacity—all critical factors for climate-resilient agriculture. Beyond emissions reduction, the facility is projected to create new jobs across residue aggregation, logistics, and processing, further embedding the initiative into the region’s rural economy.

For the broader biochar sector, the Jain Industrial Biochar Project serves as a proof-of-concept for how industrial facilities can secure consistent high-volume feedstock by monetizing agricultural waste at the source. It demonstrates that scalable biochar deployment hinges not only on technology but on building community-aligned economic incentives that link farmer livelihoods with carbon sequestration objectives.

With biomass-burning bans tightening and global demand for high-quality carbon removals rising, Jain Irrigation’s initiative positions India as a potential leader in industrial biochar systems that deliver climate impact at scale—while ensuring farmers share in the value created.