Description

Sylva Fertilis operates a large-scale biochar production facility in Argentan, Normandy, using sustainably sourced wood pellets from northeastern France. The project supports organic and regenerative agriculture by delivering biochar-based soil improvement solutions to vineyards, farmers, and municipalities. Through its Terra Fertilis® product line, Sylva Fertilis contributes to sustainable land management, soil restoration, and climate resilience.

Feedstock

The facility uses wood pellets made from timber sourced in PEFC-certified forests near Reims. The pellets are transported approximately 360 km to the production site and are suitable for pyrolysis without further drying or processing.

Application

• Agriculture: Used in vineyards and crop fields to enhance water retention and reduce input dependency.

  Urban green spaces: Adopted by cities like Reims, Lyon, and Nancy to cut irrigation needs by 20–50%.

  Soil blends: Included in soil amendment products used across organic farming and landscaping applications.

Co-benefits

• Water savings through reduced irrigation in agriculture and municipal green spaces.
• Soil regeneration, increased microbial activity, and improved nutrient cycling.
• Reduced nutrient leaching and lower demand for synthetic fertilizers.
• Job creation across the supply chain, from forestry to application.
• Support for sustainable forest management and wildfire risk reduction.

Additionality

• Environmental additionality: In the absence of the project, the wood pellets would be combusted for energy, releasing CO₂.
• Financial additionality: Carbon credit revenue—representing around 23% of the biochar revenue stream—is essential for maintaining operations, expanding production capacity, and developing new distribution channels.
• Regulatory additionality: The activities undertaken go beyond any legal requirements in France for forest residue use or carbon removal.