Chetumal Turns Coconut Waste into Carbon-Capturing Biochar

Chetumal, Mexico — A new project in Chetumal is seeking to make the coconut a useful resource for the environment. Dr. Fernando Casanova, a researcher at the Technological Institute of the Maya Zone, is leading a project that aims to transform coconut shell waste into biochar, a material with high agricultural and forestry potential that also helps reduce polluting emissions derived from the burning of this waste.

During a presentation on the study's progress, organized by the Quintana Roo Council of Science and Technology (Coqhcyt), the specialist explained that this initiative is part of a joint effort between academic institutions, local producers, and national and international research organizations.

"In 2025, the project was formally approved within the state call for applied science. Participants include the National Technological Institute of Mexico, Maya Zone campus, the College of the Southern Border, producers from the Laguna Guerrero coconut cooperative, and the Mexico Technical High School of Belize," he stated.

Dr. Casanova, a member of the National System of Researchers Level II, detailed that biochar is obtained through a controlled combustion process that utilizes hard-to-degrade organic materials, such as the coconut shell, which contains lignin, a complex structure compound. This material, he explained, when correctly transformed, can improve soil fertility, retain nutrients, and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide.

The researcher emphasized that in communities like Laguna Guerrero, where coconut production generates large volumes of waste, this alternative represents an environmental and economic solution. "Before, many producers burned the waste uncontrollably, which generated pollution and health risks. Now, with biochar, that same waste is converted into a valuable input for agriculture and the restoration of ecosystems," he indicated.

The project, backed by the Coqhcyt, is part of the push to strengthen applied science for local development. With the collaboration of the producers, the research team continues to refine the processes to improve the efficiency of the ovens and the quality of the biochar, with the goal of scaling up production and promoting its use in more rural communities in the state.