A Devon business has secured a £50,000 grant to develop carbon capturing technology designed to help combat climate change.
Appledore-based start-up Earthly Biochar is aiming to help farmers and gardeners to grow bigger, healthier plants using an organic soil supplement called biochar, that it says can also sequester carbon.
The company, founded in 2018 by entrepreneurs Lottie Hawkins and Connor Lascelles, creates the material by burning waste wood and other biomass at high temperatures in kilns.
It says the process allows for 50% of the wood’s carbon emissions - which would otherwise be released if it was rotted or incinerated - are captured within crystalline structures that do not biodegrade - meaning they could remain locked into the product for many thousands of years.
Research conducted by the fledgling firm had suggested that when added to soil, biochar increases plant health and growth by 10-200% and reduces the need for water and fertiliser by 15-40%, depending on existing soil quality.
Ms Hawkins and Mr Lascelles have secured the six-figure funding prize after being recognised at government innovation agency Innovate UK’s Young Innovators Next Steps Awards.
The pair, who are previous recipients of Innovate UK’s Young Innovator Awards said they would use the money to develop more biochar products.
Ms Hawkins said: “We’re so proud to have been recognised once again by Innovate UK. “With a growing team behind us and access to funding, we can now deliver on our mission to scale up carbon capture and focus on adapting to climate change.”
Since winning the Young Innovators Award in 2021, Earthly Biochar has received mentoring and growth support from Innovate UK EDGE, focused on business strategy, marketing and investment readiness.
Ms Hawkins added: “The outstanding support has helped us to achieve a series of major milestones over the past year. We’ve expanded our team, completed product development, and launched our hero product; biochar kilns for gardeners.
“We are now in a strong position to scale and secure further funding and investment.”
