SUEZ and Seabex Launch Five‑Year Biochar Field Trials to Revolutionize Soil Health and Water Management

SUEZ and Seabex Launch Five‑Year Biochar Field Trials to Revolutionize Soil Health and Water Management

(IN BRIEF) SUEZ and AgriTech start‑up Seabex have forged a five‑year partnership to test biochar’s potential to improve soil health and water resilience on farms in Loiret, France. Combining SUEZ’s carbon‑sequestration expertise and Terrial’s soil‑amendment knowledge with Seabex’s AI‑driven monitoring platform and the Loiret Chamber of Agriculture’s experimental network, the project will begin in September 2025. Biochar—a negative‑emission solution endorsed by the IPCC—promises both long‑term carbon storage and enhanced nutrient retention, drainage, and microbial activity. Spearheaded by the Aquanova competitiveness hub, the initiative aims to generate robust data on biochar’s agronomic and environmental benefits.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 17-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — SUEZ and French AgriTech innovator Seabex have partnered to trial the agronomic advantages of biochar across multiple farms in Loiret, central France. Seabex CEO Taher Mestiri emphasizes the significance of combining “the industrial prowess of a global leader with Seabex’s technological nimbleness” to pioneer regenerative agriculture that bolsters soil health, enhances water efficiency, and safeguards farmers’ livelihoods.

Under the collaboration, SUEZ’s carbon solutions division will work alongside Seabex’s AI‑powered monitoring and decision‑support platform—leveraging satellite imagery and on‑the‑ground data—to evaluate biochar’s impact on soil regeneration and drought resilience. Dominique Hélaine, Director of Carbon Solutions at SUEZ, notes that “biochar not only locks away carbon long‑term but also offers unparalleled benefits for sustainable agricultural water management.”

Biochar is produced by oxygen‑free, high‑temperature pyrolysis of biomass and is recognized by the IPCC as one of the top five negative‑emission technologies. Beyond sequestering carbon, it enhances nutrient retention, aeration, drainage, and microbial activity, leading to more efficient fertilizer use, higher yields, and conserved water resources. In July 2023, SUEZ joined forces with Canadian forestry specialists through the Carbonité joint venture to manufacture industrial‑scale biochar in Quebec from forest biomass residues.

Starting in September 2025 and running over five years, the experiment will assess soil water‑holding capacity, health indicators, and crop performance on participating Loiret farms. SUEZ will draw on Terrial’s expertise in fertilizers and organic amendments, while Seabex will collaborate with the Loiret Chamber of Agriculture and deploy its team of agronomists and data scientists to ensure rigorous, actionable insights.

This groundbreaking trial was incubated by Aquanova—a water‑industry competitiveness cluster operating in Orléans, Strasbourg, and Nancy—which fosters innovative regional projects addressing water resource challenges and sustainable development.

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SOURCE: SUEZ