Cotierra, a Zurich-based climate technology company, has secured $3 million in funding to advance its decentralised biochar platform across tropical agricultural regions. The round was led by PINC, the venture arm of Finnish coffee company Paulig, and Carbon Removal Partners, with support from a consortium of impact-focused investors.
The funding brings Cotierra’s total capitalisation to $4.75 million and marks a significant step towards commercialising the startup’s approach to improving soil health and reducing emissions in agricultural supply chains. The new investors joining the round include Zürcher Kantonalbank, Carbon Drawdown Initiative, better ventures, GOTA Ventures, Hungry4Impact, Triple Impact Ventures, and several climate and impact-focused angel investors.
Scaling Biochar Production for Tropical Farming
Cotierra’s core innovation centres on decentralised biochar production, a method that converts agricultural waste into a soil amendment while capturing carbon. Rather than relying on centralised facilities, the startup’s approach enables biochar production at distributed locations where biomass is readily available across tropical farming regions.
According to Thomas Käslin, CEO and Co-Founder of Cotierra, the company has demonstrated the viability of this model. “We have shown that decentralised biochar offers a highly effective pathway to decarbonise and strengthen tropical agricultural value chains where biomass is widely dispersed. Now we are making it simple, reliable and scalable,” Käslin stated.
The fresh capital will support the transition from initial field deployments to repeatable commercial operations. Cotierra plans to develop an integrated hardware and software product that simplifies implementation for farmers and agricultural operators. The funding will also enable expansion beyond the company’s initial focus to encompass additional tropical commodities, including cocoa, cotton, and citrus production.
Addressing Emissions in Agricultural Supply Chains
The startup’s timing aligns with growing recognition that agriculture must play a central role in global decarbonisation efforts. Tropical agriculture generates significant emissions through land use practices and supply chain inefficiencies, while simultaneously facing pressure to improve soil productivity amid climate variability.
Biochar application addresses multiple challenges simultaneously. The material improves soil water retention and nutrient cycling, potentially boosting farmer yields while sequestering carbon in the soil over extended periods. By producing biochar locally using agricultural residues, Cotierra’s model reduces transportation emissions associated with centralised production facilities.
The involvement of PINC reflects broader interest from established corporations in climate solutions that can integrate with existing agricultural operations. Carbon Removal Partners’ participation signals confidence in biochar’s potential contribution to measurable carbon removal objectives.
Growing Cleantech Innovation in Europe
Cotierra’s funding round demonstrates the expanding appetite among European investors for climate technology companies addressing the agriculture sector. Swiss venture capital has increasingly focused on environmental technology, with the country’s position as a hub for impact investing supporting startups working across carbon removal, sustainable agriculture, and supply chain decarbonisation. The diverse investor base backing Cotierra reflects a broader European trend toward collaborative funding models that combine traditional venture capital with impact-focused and strategically aligned investors.