North America Biochar Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis - by Feedstock and Application

The North America biochar market is expected to grow from US$ 37.34 million in 2021 to US$ 72.85 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.0% from 2021 to 2028.

Biochar is charcoal or high-carbon, the fine-grained residue produced via pyrolysis. Biochar is used as a soil conditioner and fed to animals. It is stable, solid, rich in carbon, and can abide in soil for thousands of years. Biochar offers multiple soil health benefits. It promotes good soil and plant health by reducing the leaching of E-coli through sandy soils depending on application rate, feedstock, pyrolysis temperature (i.e., 300-700°C), soil moisture content, soil texture, and surface properties of the bacteria. It can improve yield for plants that require high potash and elevated pH. Biochar can enhance water quality and lower soil emissions of greenhouse gases, nutrient leaching, soil acidity, and irrigation and fertilizer requirements. Under specific circumstances, biochar induces plant systemic responses to foliar fungal diseases and improves plant responses to infections caused by soil-borne pathogens. These associated benefits of biochar boosted the demand for biochar in the agriculture industry. The Climate Hubs (the US Department of Agriculture) has established an online platform, 'The Pacific Northwest Biochar Atlas’, that helps users choose biochar to suit soil health goals. Furthermore, the Atlas provides details about the benefits of biochar, a dozen example operations implementing biochar across the region, and a map of biochar producers to simplify access for interested producers. These and other Atlas features help improve information exchange, continuing education, and biochar accessibility for Northwest farmers. Hence, the agriculture industry’s demand for biochar is driving the biochar market. Further, the growing feedstock industry increases the demand for biochar. Moreover, the feedstock can be segmented into woody biomass, agricultural waste, and animal manure. In addition, agricultural waste is a feedstock used to produce biochar, such as corn, rice, fruit peels, and wood from forests. Biochar is produced from original materials, such as wastewater sludges and microalgae, which are fed to animals. Moreover, the feedstock is the raw material used for processing or manufacturing another product. The feedstocks are crude oil used to produce gasoline; corn used to produce ethanol; and soybean oil, which is used to create biodiesel. Therefore, the increase in the feedstock industry is supporting the growth of the biochar market across the region.

North America Biochar Market Segmentation

The North America biochar market is segmented into feedstock, application, and country. Based on feedstock, the market is segmented into woody biomass and agricultural waste, animal manure, and other feedstock. In 2020, the biomass and agricultural waste segment held the largest market share. Based on application, the market is categorized into electricity generation, agriculture, forestry, and others. In 2020, the agriculture segment held the largest market share. Similarly, based on country, the market is fragmented into the US, Canada, and Mexico. Further, the US contributed a substantial share in 2020.

Key players dominating the North America biochar market are Airex Énergie Inc.; American BioChar Company; Biochar Now, LLC; BioForceTech Corporation; Black Owl Biochar; Genesis Industries; and Phoenix Energy.