Biomass Processing, Biochar Production, and R&D Farm
Our 75-acre corporate R&D farm in Cheney, WA (just outside of Spokane) is the main campus for biomass processing and commercial biochar production. In addition, it houses our R&D laboratory and greenhouse and our proof-of-concept Agricultural Regeneration Center. More than 50 acres of farmland is available to showcase our technologies and to conduct research.
Our commercial biochar production line features three of our patented Biomass Processing Units working in parallel, fed by a feedstock storage module and outputting into a mixing shed where biochar is mixed with water to reduce dust.
Research and Development Laboratory and Greenhouse
Our research and development program, partially funded by competitive grants, focuses on improving plant and soil health and crop yields using biochar soil amendments, using both on-farm and in-greenhouse trials. Our research investigates the impact of biochar derived from different feedstocks on a variety of different crops, and at multiple concentrations. The work will support refinement of the use of our biochar products, and aid in creating new formulations to maximize benefit to crops and soil.
Biochar Technology Center
Funded in part by two Industrial Symbiosis Grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce, our Biochar Technology Center (BTC) is our biochar production and research site. This is where Qualterra produces biochar that we sell to the industry. Our biomass processing units have over 40,000 hours of processing time and use proprietary software algorithms that allows our systems to process over 25 different types of biomass feedstock. The BTC is also where some of the industry leading biochar research is conducted by our team of scientists. We are researching the impacts of many types of biochar and their impacts on soils and plants. In addition, we are conducting carbon lifecycle analysis to support development of climate smart solutions for agricultural and other industries.
