- Suntory and TOWING pilot said high-performance biochar produced from beverage residues increased tea yields by about 30% over two harvests without compromising crop quality when compared with conventional organic fertilisers.
- Suntory is expanding biochar trials in Japan and launching a second-phase pilot in Thailand with sugarcane.
- It positions biochar as a complementary input to existing regenerative agriculture practices, aiming to enhance their effectiveness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
On 3 June, Suntory Holdings and TOWING said trials of high-performance biochar increased tea yields by about 30% across two harvests without compromising crop quality, compared with conventional organic fertilisers.
“Through this pilot test, we were able to confirm the effectiveness of high-performance biochar, which combines both benefits, and we see it as one practical solution to advance these efforts,” a Suntory representative told AgNavigator.
In response to the pilot’s success, Suntory and TOWING have decided to expand production of high-performance biochar using beverage residues sourced from Suntory’s plants in the Kyushu region.
Thailand expansion
Suntory is also expanding trials outside Japan, including a second-phase pilot in Thailand where biochar made from rice husks is being applied to sugarcane fields.
“We initiated trials in Thailand, where sugarcane represents a significant portion of our procurement, with the aim of further reducing environmental impacts beyond existing regenerative agriculture practices,” said Suntory representative.
At the same time, the company said scaling the use of biochar could help reduce the widespread practice of agricultural waste burning.
“We hope this initiative will help address environmental pollution caused by the open burning of agricultural residues, which is a key issue in Thailand and across South East Asia.”
The pilot results have given the company confidence heading into the second phase of trials in Thailand.
“We have already confirmed that high-performance biochar is effective for the growth of various crops, and we therefore expect positive outcomes for sugarcane as well,” said the representative.
While biochar has proven its value in pilot conditions, its broader deployment depends on overcoming market, operational, and infrastructure challenges.
“Establishing the production process – including carbonising residues and collecting and cultivating microorganisms, as well as setting up the necessary facilities – remains a key challenge.”
Challenges remain
In recent years, Suntory has further positioned upcycling as a key priority, promoting initiatives to move towards a more circular system.
The pilot programme with TOWING, launched in May 2025, was designed to create new value from manufacturing byproducts while reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the application of high-performance biochar.
The trials compared the effects of this biochar-based soil amendment against conventional organic fertilisers in order to assess both yield and crop outcomes.
The biochar used in the trials was produced by carbonising beverage residues, specifically used green tea leaves generated from Suntory’s manufacturing processes.
This was combined with TOWING’s multifunctional microbial groups to create high-performance biochar.
Suntory does not position high-performance biochar as a replacement for existing regenerative agriculture practices, but rather as a complementary input that enhances their effectiveness.
“We intend to apply a combination of regenerative agriculture practices – such as cover cropping, no-till farming, and organic fertilisation – tailored to each specific crop and production area. To reduce GHG emissions across our supply chain, we believe it is important to test and implement a range of options.
Feedback from contract farmers involved in the trials has been generally positive, particularly with regard to the observed improvements in crop yields.
However, the trials also revealed a practical constraint related to labour, said Suntory.
“We received positive feedback expressing appreciation for improved yields. On the other hand, the labour resource required for applying biochar were identified as a challenge, and we are currently working on improvements.”
Additionally, the transition from pilot to full commercial deployment remains constrained by several challenges.
“We would need to secure customers and establish distribution channels to determine the required production scale going forward,” said Suntory.
