Biochar carbon removal (BCR) is a high-quality carbon removal method, but ensuring it is used correctly requires better traceability. That’s why MASH Makes is forming a working group to improve last-mile monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) —the process of tracking, documenting, and validating carbon removal. This initiative will use inertinite, a stable carbon form unique to biochar that can be measured after soil application.

While inertinite is often discussed in the context of permanence, an untapped value lies in its use as a reliable indicator for biochar sinks. By expanding the conversation beyond durability and focusing on its potential for traceability and verification, we’re introducing a new, direct and objective way to validate biochar application in carbon sequestration.

What is inertinite and why does it matter?

Inertinite is a highly stable form of carbon found in biochar. Unlike other carbon forms, it does not easily degrade. This makes it an excellent marker for tracking biochar in soil over long periods. Its true value for MRV comes from its uniqueness. Inertinite is found only in biochar, forest fire residues, and deep geological formations—the latter of which never contributes to soil carbon. This means we can use inertinite as a definitive fingerprint for biochar, distinguishing it from other soil carbon sources.

Key benefits of inertinite for MRV

✅ Traceability – Provides a direct, measurable indicator of biochar application in soil.

✅ Reliability – Offers a consistent and scientifically backed method for last-mile verification.

✅ Repeatability – Test can be repeated on same plot, allowing for tracking of carbon inventory.

By first measuring background inertinite levels, we establish a reference point. Once biochar is applied, new soil samples should show above-background levels of inertinite, confirming biochar’s presence. Since we already know the inertinite content of the biochar itself, we can then quantify exactly how much biochar has been applied.

Closing the traceability gap

Current MRV methods confirm where biochar is received by the sink creator, but they cannot prevent misapplication or verify long-term sequestration. While tools like geotagging and photo documentation provide some oversight, they can be bypassed. By incorporating inertinite tracking, we introduce a fundamentally new way to measure biochar in real-world conditions, strengthening verification.

This project is designed to advance biochar applications in a way that benefits the industry as a whole. That’s why we’re anchoring it with a diverse set of stakeholders, including researchers from Aarhus University and The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS). We are also working with key stakeholders, including A Healthier Earth, Isometric, CarbonFuture, Puro, Cula, Ondrej Masek, and Robert Höglund, to set benchmarks for biochar monitoring.

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