NetZero To Open Pioneering Factory In Minas In February To Produce 4,000 Tons Annually Of Sugarcane-Based Biochar

Written by Maria Heloisa Barbosa Borges

Published on 16/09/2025 at 11:39

A francesa NetZero inaugura em Campina Verde (MG) uma fábrica para produzir 4.000 toneladas de biocarvão de cana por ano. A tecnologia captura carbono, melhora o solo e pode gerar créditos de carbono, reforçando o papel do agronegócio brasileiro na sustentabilidade.

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French Startup Bets on Using Sugarcane to Produce Sugarcane Biochar, Technology That Captures Carbon and Improves Soil Quality.

The French startup NetZero announced the inauguration, in February 2025, of a pioneering factory in Campina Verde (MG) dedicated to the production of sugarcane biochar. The unit will have an initial capacity of 4,000 tons per year, consolidating Brazil as a strategic hub in the production of this technology.

According to the Jornal de Brasília, the proposal is to transform sugarcane waste, abundant in the country, into a product considered promising for capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere and regenerating agricultural soils, opening new opportunities in sustainability and carbon credits.

What Is Sugarcane Biochar and How Does It Work

Biochar from sugarcane is obtained through pyrolysis, a process that consists of the controlled burning of plant waste at high temperatures.

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Why Minas Gerais Was Chosen for the Factory

The choice of Campina Verde, in Minas Gerais, was not by chance. The region is one of the largest sugarcane cultivation hubs in Brazil, which ensures an abundance of raw material for the project.

It is estimated that the country is responsible for 40% of the global sugarcane waste, totaling 700 million tons per year.

The stalks that will supply the new unit will be provided by a large local agricultural company, which will also use sugarcane biochar in its own plantations, reinforcing the circular economy and sustainable use of waste.

NetZero and the Bet on Carbon Capture

Founded in 2021 by Olivier Reinaud, Axel Reinaud, and climatologist Jean Jouzel, NetZero already operates five biochar factories worldwide—four in Brazil, focused on coffee waste, and one in Cameroon.

Now, the company is expanding its operations with the first plant dedicated exclusively to sugarcane.

According to Olivier Reinaud, “we are the first to register with the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture the biochar as a means to improve soil.”

In recent years, the startup has also attracted investors through the sale of carbon credits, which made it possible to expand its model to tropical countries.

The Expected Impact on the Agricultural and Environmental Sector

The Minas Gerais factory is expected to mark a leap in the industrialization of biochar in tropical regions, creating a replicable model for other sugarcane-producing areas.

Experts believe that the technology can be fundamental in reducing emissions from the agricultural sector, which is responsible for a significant share of global CO₂.

In economic terms, sugarcane biochar paves the way for new sources of revenue through the valuation of carbon credits, while also providing direct benefits to farmers in the form of more fertile and productive soils.

NetZero’s initiative in Minas Gerais shows how sugarcane biochar can transform agricultural waste into sustainable assets, reconciling environmental preservation and productivity.

With 4,000 tons per year expected in the first year, Brazil reinforces its position as a protagonist in the transition to greener practices.

Do you believe that sugarcane biochar can truly become a large-scale solution for Brazilian agribusiness? Do you think this technology can change the agricultural market?

Leave your opinion in the comments, we want to hear your views on the impact of this project.

NetZero To Open Pioneering Factory In Minas In February To Produce 4,000 Tons Annually Of Sugarcane-Based Biochar

French Startup Bets on Using Sugarcane to Produce Sugarcane Biochar, Technology That Captures Carbon and Improves Soil Quality.

What Is Sugarcane Biochar and How Does It Work

Why Minas Gerais Was Chosen for the Factory

NetZero and the Bet on Carbon Capture

The Expected Impact on the Agricultural and Environmental Sector

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NetZero To Open Pioneering Factory In Minas In February To Produce 4,000 Tons Annually Of Sugarcane-Based Biochar

French Startup Bets on Using Sugarcane to Produce Sugarcane Biochar, Technology That Captures Carbon and Improves Soil Quality.

What Is Sugarcane Biochar and How Does It Work

Why Minas Gerais Was Chosen for the Factory

NetZero and the Bet on Carbon Capture

The Expected Impact on the Agricultural and Environmental Sector

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Ethiopia has banned gasoline and diesel cars, placed over a hundred silent electric buses on the streets of Addis Ababa, and now aims for half a million electric vehicles by 2030, all powered by Africa’s largest dam and a courage that few countries have shown.

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Norway is drilling 27 kilometers of rock 392 meters below the bottom of a fjord to build the world’s largest and deepest underwater road tunnel — when completed, a 21-hour journey will be reduced to 10.

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