Japan-based global drinks conglomerate Suntory Group has announced it is working with agritech startup Towing to explore use of biochar in agriculture.
The companies have launched a joint pilot programme to explore the potential of high-performance biochar, which is produced from manufacturing byproducts in Suntory Group’s supply chain.
The process involves a soil amendment created by adding soil-based microorganisms into carbonised unused biomass (known as biochar), which has functions such as accelerating the decomposition of organic fertilisers. Towing has commercialised this product under the name Soratan.
This pilot programme has two key objectives: one is to upcycle manufacturing byproducts and the other is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by suppressing the use of chemical fertilisers.
In this pilot, a biochar has been produced by carbonising beverage residues – in this case, used green tea leaves from Suntory Group’s manufacturing processes. This was then combined with Towing’s multifunctional microbial groups, such as microbes that accelerate the decomposition of organic fertilisers, to create what Suntory and its partners are calling high-performance biochar.
Future plans involve producing high-performance biochar from other manufacturing byproducts generated within Suntory’s supply chain.
This agritech move is expected to improve fertiliser efficiency, which is hoped will lead to improved crop quality and yield as well as environmental benefits. Suntory and its agritech partner say they will study and compare the effects of conventional organic fertilisers with organic fertilisers treated with high-performance biochar at Suntory Group’s contract farm where tea plants are grown.
The first harvest has already been completed where results show that crops grown in soil treated with high-performance biochar maintained the same quality while improving the yield compared to the use of conventional organic fertilisers.
Masaaki Fujiwara, chief sustainability officer of Suntory Holdings, remarked: “Suntory Group aims to achieve net-zero GHG emissions across our entire value chain by 2050, as outlined in our ‘Environmental Vision toward 2050’.
“To achieve this goal, we are continually testing various methods and technologies such as regenerative agriculture, and we see high-performance biochar as a new technology that can contribute to achieving this vision. We are collaborating with Towing to explore the utilisation of high-performance biochar technology towards our common goal of carbon neutrality.”
Kohei Nishida, founder & CEO of Towing, added: “Suntory Group operates a wide range of businesses both in Japan and overseas.
“They are not only focused on addressing supply chain issues, but also actively committed to realising sustainable agriculture and food systems – an area we also uphold as part of our mission. Their dedication to being a key player who takes real action, exemplifies a sincere approach to tackling global issues.”
It is hoped the pilot will serve as a starting point for global project development.
Suntory makes whiskies including Japanese brands Yamazaki and Hibiki and US lines Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark. Its house of brands also includes widely distributed non-alcoholic drops such as Orangina, Lucozade, and Oasis.
Read more about agritech on Green Retail World
[image credit: Suntory/Towing]
