In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Myles Gray, Executive Director of the U.S. Biochar Initiative (USBI), to explore how the ancient technique of biochar is making a modern comeback. He unpacks the science, market momentum, and growing demand around biochar — from vineyards and urban forests to concrete and stormwater management. With Microsoft and Google recently signing record-setting biochar carbon removal deals, it’s clear this is more than just a niche soil amendment — it’s a technology whose time has come once again.

Key Points:

• Triple Climate Win: Biochar is a rare climate solution that checks three boxes at once — sequestering carbon, improving soil health, and generating renewable energy. It’s made by heating waste biomass without oxygen, creating a stable material that stores carbon for centuries.
• Biochar’s Ancient Roots, Modern Applications: Indigenous cultures, especially in the Amazon, used biochar to create rich, fertile soils known as terra preta. Today, it’s being rediscovered as a climate solution with wide-ranging applications in agriculture, infrastructure, and industry.
• Big Tech Buys In: Microsoft and Google have committed to the world’s largest biochar-based carbon removal purchases, signaling a turning point in how biochar is valued in carbon markets. The deals reflect a growing preference for durable, measurable, and scalable climate solutions.

• Myles Gray, Executive Director at the U.S. Biochar Initiative
• LinkedIn
• North American Biochar Conference

• Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, LinkedIn

• Previous episodes discussing PFAS:
• #31: Carbon Price, Power, and Politics with Neal Dikeman- Part 1
• #33: Carbon Price, Power, and Politics with Neal Dikeman- Part 2
• #44: Ending the Timeline for PFAS Forever Chemicals

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