Key Takeaways
- CarbonZero.Eco, a Silicon Valley-based startup, has raised $3.5 million in seed funding from investors, including executives from Google, Meta, and Amazon.
- The company has secured $7 million in agreements with over 300 almond farms in California to mitigate up to 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions.
- CarbonZero.Eco’s first Biochar production site in Colusa County, CA, is set to open in April 2025 and has received preliminary assessment approval from Puro.earth.
- Biochar technology locks carbon in biomass for thousands of years, preventing emissions and improving soil quality and crop yields.
- CEO Harper Moss and CTO Gregory Ray are leading efforts to scale Biochar production across U.S. farmland to support regenerative agriculture and carbon sequestration.
CarbonZero.Eco Announces Seed Funding and Large-Scale Biochar Expansion
CarbonZero.Eco, a Silicon Valley-based startup focused on Biochar technology for regenerative agriculture and carbon removal, has announced a $3.5 million seed round with participation from executives at Google, Meta, Amazon, and late-stage startup CEOs.
In addition to securing funding, CarbonZero.Eco has signed agreements worth $7 million with over 300 almond farms in Colusa County and Yolo County, California. The initiative is expected to sequester up to 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions by transforming almond shells—which would typically decompose within two years—into Biochar.
Rich Miner, co-founder of Android and an early investor in Google Ventures, praised the startup’s leadership: “Harper’s passion, persistence, and drive led her to start an amazing company tackling regenerative farming and carbon emissions at a critical time. I am excited to see how far she takes it along with Greg and their impressive team.”
CarbonZero.Eco’s First Biochar Production Facility Set for 2025 Launch
The company’s first Biochar production site is scheduled to open in April 2025 in Colusa County, CA, where almonds are processed.
✔ Puro.earth, the leading carbon credit certification platform, has vetted the project and approved its preliminary assessment.
✔ CarbonZero.Eco is now registered as a biochar CO2 Removal Certificate supplier and will begin generating carbon credits in summer 2025.
Dan Pronsolino, General Manager of Cortina Hulling and Shelling LLC, commented on the collaboration: “Harper pitched our ownership group and convinced us that she would build a business model that we would all benefit from. We look forward to working with her and Greg to improve soil health, increase crop yields, and create additional revenue for the more than 300 local growers we serve.”
Biochar Technology: Addressing Agricultural Waste and Carbon Emissions
Each year, the global agricultural sector produces over 1.3 billion tons of waste, much of which ends up in landfills or incineration, contributing to approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
✔ Biochar stabilizes carbon within biomass, preventing its release into the atmosphere for thousands of years.
✔ It also enhances soil quality, increases water retention, and improves crop yields, making it a sustainable solution for regenerative farming.
✔ Over 6,000 scientific studies support Biochar’s effectiveness in soil health and carbon sequestration.
By collaborating with almond farmers, CarbonZero.Eco plans to convert up to 1.5 million tons of almond shells into Biochar, preventing carbon emissions and providing long-term agricultural benefits.
Scaling Biochar for U.S. Agriculture
CarbonZero.Eco was founded by CEO Harper Moss and CTO Gregory Ray, with the mission to introduce Biochar technology to 525 million acres of U.S. farmland. The company is working to address:
✔ Farmer enablement – Educating and equipping farmers with sustainable soil solutions.
✔ Biochar production capacity – Meeting the rising demand for carbon sequestration solutions in agriculture.
A key strategic move for the company was locating its first Biochar facility near almond processing centers, eliminating additional transportation emissions and ensuring a net-positive carbon impact.
CEO Harper Moss shared her vision for the company: “Farmers are the beating heart of our country, yet they haven’t been a big enough part of the carbon conversation. Regenerative farming and carbon sequestration go hand in hand thanks to Biochar, and I am humbled that hundreds of farms trust us enough to partner with us on this journey.”
