BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 13. Uzbekistan has
signed cooperation agreements with Smart Carbon and BIZPANDO to
develop biochar production from agricultural waste and advance
carbon credit projects on the sidelines of the 31st UN Climate
Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye on November 12.
According to Uzbekistan's Ministry of Agriculture, under the
agreement with Smart Carbon, the sides plan to implement a project
to produce biochar from cotton stalks. A separate agreement with
BIZPANDO focuses on processing various types of agricultural
residues and developing mechanisms for generating carbon
credits.
The initiatives envisage using pyrolysis technology to convert
agricultural plant residues into biochar, which can then be applied
to soil to improve its quality and support long-term carbon
storage.
The projects are also intended to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by turning agricultural waste into useful raw materials
rather than leaving it in fields or disposing of it through
conventional methods.
The ministry noted that the initiatives would help transform
agricultural residues into economically valuable products, create
additional income opportunities for farmers and reduce the
environmental impact of agricultural production.
The agreements are expected to support the wider adoption of
circular economy principles in Uzbekistan's agricultural sector,
promote environmentally sustainable production and create
opportunities for the country to participate in international
carbon credit markets.
Swiss-based Bizpando AG operates in the field of agricultural
sustainability and carbon markets. The company has previously
cooperated with Uzbekistan's Republican Agro-Services Center (AKIS)
and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) on a project
involving biochar and compost production, with the aim of helping
cotton farmers generate carbon credits through more sustainable
agricultural practices. Under that initiative, Bizpando was
responsible for coordinating the generation and sale of carbon
credits.
