Fergana Valley
Pilot Plant Development
The first biochar plant, built on land already identified within the Fergana Valley, converting regional cotton residue.
View program progress →47%
of Uzbekistan's irrigated land is affected by soil salinity — the core problem biochar restoration addresses
5 ha
SEZ allocation identified in the Fergana Valley for the pilot plant site
5
durable carbon-removal registries under evaluation for the project's certification pathway
9
agricultural residue types mapped across Fergana Valley districts as potential feedstock
About SmartCarbon
01
What we build
Government-partnered biochar plants that convert local agricultural residue into a stable, carbon-rich material.
By pairing proven pyrolysis technology with transparent monitoring, we turn a waste-management problem into a durable carbon removal asset — one that is verifiable, exportable, and built to be replicated across every cotton-growing region in the country.
02
Where we start
A single, fully de-risked pilot plant in the Fergana Valley — with land, feedstock, and government support already in place.
How It Works
From field residue to certified removal, in five steps.
Every stage — feedstock origin, process conditions, and biochar output — is logged to support monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) for carbon-credit issuance.
01
Collection
Cotton stalks, wheat straw and orchard residue gathered from contracted local suppliers.
02
Pre-processing
Biomass dried, sorted and sized for stable, continuous reactor feed.
03
Pyrolysis
Residue heated in a low-oxygen chamber, converting it into biochar and process gas.
04
Handling
Biochar cooled, lab-tested, and prepared for soil or industrial application.
05
MRV & certification
Records compiled against the chosen registry methodology for credit issuance.
Programs
Three programs, one platform.
Each program is designed to work independently while feeding the same national MRV and registry infrastructure.
Soil Restoration
Salinity Remediation
Biochar application designed for salt-affected irrigated farmland, developed alongside regional agricultural authorities.
View government partnership →Carbon Markets
Registry & MRV Design
A monitoring and verification framework built to meet the requirements of leading durable carbon-removal registries.
Read the registry FAQ →Progress
What's already secured — and what comes next.
The foundational risks in a project like this are land, feedstock, and government alignment. Here's exactly where each one stands today.
Land
Industrial Facility
5 hectares identified inside the Fergana Valley Special Economic Zone.
Identified
Gov.
Regional government MOU
Memorandum of understanding signed with the regional governor's office.
Secured
Supply
Feedstock guarantee
Supply letter signed, with a capped delivered price for pilot-stage residue.
Secured
Nat'l
National visibility
Project presented to national leadership during a regional visit to Fergana.
Secured
Tech
Technology & equipment selection
Formal evaluation of reactor platforms against throughput, uptime and cost.
In progress
Reg.
Registry & certification pathway
Primary carbon-credit registry confirmation, ahead of MRV system build-out.
In progress
Why Partner With Us
Built for scrutiny, not just for pitch decks.
Government and institutional partners get documentation they can act on, not just projections.
Documented land & feedstock rights
Land allocation and supply agreements are available for review, not asserted without evidence.
Request documentation →Registry-grade MRV design
Monitoring architecture built against the data requirements of the registry we ultimately select.
See registry approach →Government-aligned, not government-adjacent
Developed alongside regional and national agricultural policy, not around it.
See government partnership →For Governments
A land-restoration tool that pays for its own monitoring.
Salinity remediation programs are typically cost centers. Because biochar production can also generate verified carbon-removal credits, the same infrastructure that restores farmland can fund its own long-term monitoring and reporting.
- Aligned with existing agricultural development strategy
- Local employment through feedstock collection and plant operations
- A replicable template for other cotton-growing regions
Ministry of Agriculture engagement
Regional Governor's office partnership
Industrial Facility in Fergana
National presentation completed
For Investors & Partners
A bounded first project, with room to grow.
The Fergana pilot is structured as a standalone project, separate from the long-term national rollout — giving partners a clear, contained entry point before committing to scale. Structural and financial terms are shared directly with qualified partners under a data-room agreement.
Land & feedstock secured
Government-partnered
Registry pathway in selection
Replication playbook in development
Data room includes
- Land allocation & feedstock guarantee documents
- Technical feasibility study
- Ownership structure & governance framework
- Registry & certification pathway assessment
"
What convinced our office to move forward wasn't the pitch — it was that the land and feedstock questions were already answered before the first meeting.
Regional Agricultural PartnerFergana Valley cooperation program
Frequently Asked
Your questions, answered.
Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich material produced by heating agricultural residue in a low-oxygen environment, a process called pyrolysis. Instead of that residue decomposing or being burned, its carbon is locked into a solid form that can remain stable in soil for a long period, while also improving soil structure and water retention.
Uzbekistan combines a large, seasonal supply of agricultural residue with a significant share of irrigated farmland affected by salinity. That pairing of available feedstock and real land-restoration need, alongside engaged regional government partners, makes it a strong location for a first biochar program.
The program has already secured several foundational milestones: a memorandum of understanding with regional government, land allocated inside a Special Economic Zone, and a signed feedstock supply guarantee. The current focus is on technology selection, certification pathway confirmation, and pilot plant implementation.
SmartCarbon is evaluating several durable carbon-removal registry pathways, including Puro.earth, Isometric, Verra's VM0044 methodology, Gold Standard, and the European Biochar Certificate. A primary registry is selected based on monitoring requirements, buyer recognition, and fit with the project's data infrastructure.
Government bodies and institutional partners can request a program briefing covering land and feedstock arrangements, the technical feasibility framework, and the certification pathway under consideration. Use the contact form below to request a briefing.
Feedstock planning accounts for existing uses of each residue type, such as animal bedding or fuel, and sources primarily from residue that is otherwise burned or left unmanaged in the field. Supplier agreements are structured around locally available surplus rather than displacing existing uses.
SmartCarbon
Let's build the first verified plant.
Whether you're a government partner, an institutional investor, or a research collaborator — start with a program briefing.