Suntory upcycles tea waste into biochar for Kyushu farms

Suntory Holdings Ltd. and the green agritech startup TOWING have commenced full-scale production of high-performance biochar made from beverage manufacturing residue. Successful trials demonstrated a significant increase in agricultural yields, and now they are establishing a regional circular economy model in the Kyushu district by upcycling tea dregs into soil conditioners for local farms.

Their collaboration began in May 2025 to create new value from manufacturing waste, taking tea dregs from Suntory Group beverage plants and converting them into biochar. TOWING then applies its proprietary technology to culture specific microbial groups onto the charcoal, resulting in a high-performance biochar known as Soratan.

During two phases of verification tests at tea plantations contracted with Suntory, the application of this biochar resulted in a yield increase of approximately 30 per cent. These results were achieved while maintaining the quality of the harvest. With this, the companies have moved to full-scale production using residue from the Suntory Kyushu Kumamoto Plant. The finished biochar is distributed to the tea plantations that supply the raw materials for Suntory’s products, completing a local resource loop.

Currently, Suntory and TOWING are also conducting trials using rice husks to produce biochar for sugarcane fields in Thailand. They see potential in addressing regional environmental issues such as air pollution caused by the open burning of agricultural waste.

Suntory Group has previously achieved a 100 per cent recycling rate for its manufacturing residue by using it as livestock feed or fertiliser. The company now focuses on upcycling to generate higher added value and promote regenerative agriculture. TOWING, a startup originating from Nagoya University, seeks to realise a super-circular society through sustainable agriculture. Both companies intend to continue their efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality and a circular society through sustainable agricultural practices.