Australia generates more than 50 million tonnes of biomass waste each year. One company that's turning this to good use is Melbourne-based Earth Systems. Using its patented technology, Earth Systems can turn organic waste into a form of charcoal, called biochar.
In 2025, Earth Systems joined a Southeast Asia Business Exchange (SEABX) mission to Thailand, which triggered a multimillion-dollar export deal. The company has now built and commissioned an Australian-manufactured biochar production facility in northern Thailand to help farmers reduce carbon emissions from agricultural burn-off.
'Sustainability is the challenge of our time and Earth Systems is helping to address that challenge,' says Nigel Murphy, Co-founder and Managing Director, Earth Systems. 'Our export journey in Thailand has just started. We will be working with Austrade to develop new markets.'
Home-grown biochar technology
Earth Systems is an environmental, social science and engineering company. It was founded in Melbourne in 1993.
'We are engineers and scientists that create sustainable outcomes,' says Murphy. 'Our purpose is to make the world a more sustainable place.'
One of Earth Systems' most advanced products is the 'CharMaker'. This is a thermal system that takes biomass - such as wood chips or crop residues - and turns them into a substance called biochar.
'Biochar is essentially a non-fossil fuel carbon made from biomass waste,' says Murphy. 'It resembles charcoal, but unlike charcoal it is not used for fuel. Biochar is used for soil improvement or animal feed, and can be sequestered back into the earth.
'Alternatively, manufacturers can use biochar as a building block for high-value carbon products such as carbon fibre. Biochar has even been used to make a championship-winning snowboard.'
SEABX mission delivers export contacts
In 2024, Earth Systems wanted to diversify its existing business in Southeast Asia. It joined a SEABX trade mission to Thailand hosted by Austrade. The mission included attendance at Thailand's annual Sustainability Expo.
The trade mission enabled the company to connect with like-minded Thai companies as well as government officials. Murphy says renewables initiatives are often supported by government organisations. This means it is vital for Australian businesses to establish official connections.
'It helps to have the government on your side in many of the countries where we operate,' says Murphy. 'Air pollution is a big problem in Thailand, and the Thai Government is keen to adopt new solutions. It wants to help farmers use organic waste and not burn crop residue.'
Earth Systems' CharMaker takes biomass such as crop residues and turns it into a substance called biochar that can be used for animal feed or soil improvement.
Contacts lead to Thai export deal
During the SEABX mission, Austrade introduced Earth Systems to Thailand-based biomass developer, Enable Earth. This led to a partnership agreement and the successful export sale of Earth Systems' CharMaker system.
'We had absolutely fantastic support from Austrade and the Australian embassy in Thailand,' says Murphy. 'They opened doors that would otherwise be very difficult to open.
'We exported the CharMaker at the end of 2025, and we are now commissioning the machinery. This is the first stage of a multimillion-dollar project in Thailand. We are now developing a strategic biochar plan for Thailand.
'Biochar will enhance climate resilience in agricultural production. This is the first step in a larger project to help fast-track the burgeoning biochar industry in Thailand and position the country as a regional and global leader.'
Australian tech helps lower emissions
For Murphy, the export deal has ethical significance.
'Our vision is to deliver more sustainable outcomes for Thailand,' he says. 'We have devised an outcome to the problem of agriculture burn-off in Thailand by working with Austrade and the Australian mission in Thailand.
'Sustainability issues cross national boundaries. This means that solutions must be global so we will be working with Austrade to develop other markets. We will support the Australian Government in its initiatives to promote Australian technology.'
Australia's biochar industry
According to Damon Love, Global Engagement Adviser, Austrade, Australia has a fast-growing biochar industry - and world-class biochar technology.
'Australia has a lot of good companies in the biochar sector, and some are beginning to export,' he says. 'This is partly the result of Australia's vast agriculture industry.
'Leading companies have helped create the ANZ Biochar Industry Group and we have a national Biochar Roadmap. Australia is in the early stages of exporting biochar products and expertise, and Earth Systems is leading the way.'
Top tips for exporters
- Work with the culture and embrace it.
- Develop trusting relationships with people on-the-ground.
- Be persistent; don't look for quick wins, and build to last.
- Enjoy the journey.
