USDA Backs $960K Mizzou Biochar Project to Help Farmers Go Organic — Here's Why It Matters for Missouri Growers
- Eric Burns
- 54 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Scientists at the University of Missouri are testing whether biochar can improve soil fertility for organic farmers, backed by a $960,000 grant from the USDA. For growers across our eight-state territory, this is one more piece of independent, university-led evidence that biochar belongs in serious soil-health planning — not on the fringe.
What the project is studying
Project leader Caixia “Ellen” Wan and her team want to help small- and medium-sized farms move land that isn’t currently ready for organic production into productive organic systems. The work tests biochar made from several agricultural feedstocks to find which performs best, and pairs biochar with compost and beneficial microbes to build soil fertility. The initial focus is vegetable crop production, with amendments tested in real-world conditions alongside local farmers.
Why the organic-transition angle matters
Transitioning to certified organic is expensive and slow, especially on ground that’s been managed conventionally for decades. Soils may not yet support organic yields, which makes the transition financially risky. An integrated amendment strategy built around biochar — improving nutrient retention, soil structure, and microbial activity — is exactly the kind of tool that can shorten that gap.
Where Terra Char fits
Terra Char supplies bulk biochar in semi-load to multi-load volumes across Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Georgia. As university and USDA research continues to validate biochar for organic transition and soil fertility, we’re positioned to supply growers, compost producers, and landscape suppliers who want to put these findings to work at scale.
If you’re evaluating biochar for an organic-transition plan or a compost blend, get in touch — we’ll help you size a load to your acreage.
Phil Blom, CEO, Terra Char | BioEnergy Innovations Global, Inc. | In Association with Carbon Veterans (SDVOSB)