Negative Emissions through Biochar-based Products

David Bregulla is 43 years old and lives in Freiburg. He studied geography at the Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen and holds a Master of Human Rights from the Sussex University close to London. During his studies, he focused on climate change repercussions and adaption to climate change in rural areas in South America. So far, David Bregulla has worked in different roles in the food industry and since April 2023, he has been a project manager at Carbuna Aktiengesellschaft (joint-stock company). This company sees itself as a platform for the trade and leading refinement of biochar.

“Carbuna AG in Memmingen in the Allgäu region develops and produces natural biochar products for various applications, including for use in urban green spaces,” David Bregulla describes his employer’s scope: “I manage the project *Healthy Urban Trees and Green Areas through the Use of Biochar, following the Swedish Model*. It is supported by my company together with the German Federal Environmental Foundation.”

This project has been in place since 2022 and aims to enable the broader use of biochar in urban plant substrates. An important aspect of this project is the translation of the handbook on tree pits published by the City of Stockholm. David Bregulla adds: “Considering current experiences from Sweden, we exchange ideas with local authorities, planning offices, gardening and landscaping contractors, scientists, economists, and other experts in order to achieve widespread application and initiate even more pilot projects in Germany. One thing we focus on are the negative emissions biochar can bring. This will make it possible to turn urban green areas into real carbon sinks. There are corresponding certificates for these carbon sinks that can be used for local climate management.”

The results of this research project are used by Carbuna AG for their innovative product development. “Our production happens on a property of 5,000 square metres (about 1.24 acres) with a facility that is catered to our exact needs. Per day, we can produce up to ten metric tons of different substrates supplemented with biochar. They will then be packed into sacks or Big Bags with a capacity of 500 kg (about 1.100 pounds),” David Bregulla explains.

And whenever David Bregulla is not working, he likes to “spend time with friends and family in his garden plot – the best place for relaxing while gardening or playing with the children.”
Carbuna AG is one of the exhibitors at the joint stand Young Innovators. This area is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and can be found in Hall 3C. NürnbergMesse offers companies in the International StartUp Area special conditions for participating in GaLaBau, the leading International Trade Fair for Urban Green and Open Spaces (www.galabau-messe.com/en). The fair takes places from 11 – 14 September 2024.