British apple and pear growers are taking practical steps to reduce emissions and build more climate-resilient orchards. A new project report, commissioned by British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) explores how biochar could play a key role in that journey.
Developed through a unique collaboration between commercial growers, researchers and technical specialists, the project investigated how orchard wood from end-of-life trees could be turned into biochar and returned to the soil – locking away carbon while supporting long-term soil health.
This report is the outcome of a project that was part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
Watch: how biochar could support lower-carbon orchards
Hear directly from the growers and researchers involved in the project about what was tested, what was learned and what it could mean for the future of British orchards.
For those who want to explore the technical detail, a longer film is also available featuring in-depth discussion with the project partners.
About the report
Biochar: Taking commercial apple production to net zero brings together findings from field trials, technology assessments and lifecycle carbon analysis across commercial orchard systems.
The research looked at:
- How orchard biomass from removed trees could be processed into biochar using pyrolysis technologies
- The potential for biochar to store carbon long-term when applied back to soils
- Practical considerations for growers, including machinery, handling and in-field application
- The wider carbon footprint of British apple production, from orchard to distribution centre
The work highlights that while many emissions in fruit production are linked to wider supply-chain factors such as packaging and energy, orchard removal presents a specific opportunity for the sector to reduce carbon loss and potentially create a new form of on-farm carbon storage.
READ THE FULL BAPL BIOCHAR REPORT HERE
A collaborative industry effort
This project brought together:
- Commercial apple growers providing orchards, biomass and trial sites
- Academic partners leading lifecycle carbon analysis and laboratory assessment
- Technical specialists assessing biochar production technologies
- The UK Agri-Tech Centre supporting coordination and knowledge exchange
The result is one of the most detailed looks to date at how biochar could fit into commercial top fruit production in the UK.
What happens next
This report is a starting point, not the end of the story.
1. Further field trials in commercial orchards
BAPL has secured ADOPT funding to support the next phase of field-scale trials. This work will test and refine how biochar can be used in real orchard conditions, helping to answer practical questions around application rates, soil impacts and long-term performance.
2. Ongoing lifecycle carbon analysis
Alongside the field work, the industry is continuing to build a clearer picture of where emissions occur in apple and pear production, and where the biggest opportunities for reduction lie. This includes assessing how interventions such as biochar, renewable energy and improved input efficiency can contribute to lower-carbon fruit.
Together, this work supports the sector’s ambition to make British apples and pears among the lowest-carbon fruit choices available to shoppers.
Why this matters
Apple and pear orchards already store carbon over many years of permanent planting. By exploring ways to keep more of that carbon locked into soils at the end of orchard life, the sector is looking at how it can go further — combining productive farming with long-term climate benefits.
Biochar is not a silver bullet, but this project shows it could become an important part of a wider, science-led approach to reducing the carbon footprint of British fruit.