Singaporean climate tech startup WasteX, which operates in the Philippines and Indonesia, recently raised $450,000 in funding from P4G Partnerships, an initiative that helps businesses working on climate mitigation and adaptation solutions in food, water, and energy.
Founded in 2022 by Pawel Kuznicki, WasteX helps farms and agricultural producers convert biomass waste into biochar, which enhances soil by increasing nutrient availability, soil aeration, and soil water filtration. WasteX’s biochar technology, centered on its unique small-scale carbonizer, optimizes energy efficiency to minimize methane emissions. The company also offers an end-to-end integrated biochar solution with features such as proprietary equipment and a mobile app.
The new funding is expected to accelerate the startup’s expansion, with WasteX recently implementing its biochar solution at a prominent rice mill in Tarlac. By converting rice husks into biochar, the mill aims to enhance soil quality and agricultural productivity while helping clients earn carbon credits.
Renato KaKa Constantino, Social Entrepreneurs Officer at the Tarlac mill, said, “With WasteX’s solution, agricultural expertise, and ongoing operational support, we are now able to offer biochar to our rice farmers and improve their livelihood. We also wish to make rice farming a more profitable occupation to attract the younger generation.”
WasteX has completed numerous biochar implementations on diverse crops across the Philippines and Indonesia, with biochar application resulting in a 95% increase in yield while reducing fertilizer by 50% compared to the typical practice. Similarly, rice yields increased by 38% along with the potential for long-term fertilizer reductions of 25 to 50%.
Robyn McGuckin, Executive Director at P4G, said, “P4G is committed to supporting innovative climate solutions like WasteX that deliver not only long-term positive impact to smallholder farmers but also do so in a way that contributes to priorities around enhancing food security and reducing emissions. We look forward to helping WasteX attract the investment it needs to scale.”
Pawel Kuznicki, Founder and CEO at WasteX, said, “The P4G Partnership not only provides substantial capital for an early-stage climate-tech startup but requires and greatly supports the partnership to engage with national policy-making and market development. The objective is to facilitate the development of a favorable regulatory and commercial environment that would support the growth and adoption of the innovation.”
As it expands, WasteX seeks planned integration opportunities across sectors and aims for international growth by exporting its carbonizer technology.