Locally developed biochar-rock blend attracts global interest

Farmer's Weekly in 2024 reported on promising field trial results for RegenR8, a plant growth enhancer combining biochar and volcanic rock, on wheat at Tygerhoek Research Farm near Riviersonderend in the Western Cape. Clayton Postma spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the latest developments with the product and shared his thoughts on how it is working.

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Aquagel made history when it became the first and only company to present a combination of biochar and micronised volcanic rock as a solution to climate change at a carbon sequestration conference held at Oxford University in 2024. Clayton Postma, managing director of Aquagel, recalls that there were hundreds of solutions focusing on either biochar or volcanic rock to capture carbon, but only Aquagel and one PhD holder were exploring the combination of the two.

Compared to the student, Aquagel was at least six months ahead in terms of results, product development, and a market-ready patented product.

"By combining the two, Aquagel aimed to extend carbon storage in soils. Biochar can lock away carbon for more than a century, while volcanic rock weathering has the potential to store it for millennia. We also sought to amplify the individual agronomic benefits associated with each of these," says Postma.

He adds that what makes the solution “really special” is that it was conceived and developed right here in South Africa.

INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS

To understand how the combination may work in practice, it is useful to consider the individual characteristics of its components.

Biochar has long been recognised for its ability to improve soil structure and water retention, particularly in sandy soils.

While it contains no nutrients itself, its high surface area improves cation exchange capacity and enables it to hold onto essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, reducing leaching and improving fertiliser use efficiency.

Biochar also provides a protected habitat for beneficial soil organisms, enhancing biodiversity and accelerating the breakdown of organic matter.