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Agreement Calls for Over 100,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) across 3 Years
GURUGRAM, India, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Varaha, a leading developer of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects with smallholder farmers across Asia, today announced a major offtake agreement with Microsoft for biochar carbon removal in India.
Varaha will develop 18 industrial gasification reactors that will operate for 15 years, with a total projected removal volume exceeding 2 million tonnes of CO₂ over the project's lifetime.
The project sources cotton stalks from smallholder farms in Maharashtra, India for use as the feedstock for biochar production. After harvest, these stalks are treated as waste biomass, and open-field burning is a common practice across the region's cotton belt. This project provides an alternative use for the stalks, converting them into biochar through Varaha's biomass gasification facilities and sequestering biogenic carbon for centuries.
Delivering Local Impact
Varaha's biochar project also delivers measurable benefits for farmers and communities:
- Improvement in Air Quality: The project mitigates the widespread burning of cotton crop residue, significantly reducing PM 2.5 pollutants that contribute to poor air quality. By providing an economically viable alternative to field burning, the initiative tackles a major source of seasonal air pollution.
- Promotion of Regenerative Agriculture: Farmers participating in the program adopt regenerative practices like crop residue mulching and biochar application to soils, improving soil health, water retention, and long-term agricultural productivity.
- Lifting Farmer Livelihoods: The program directly enhances the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers, who receive payment both for contributing agricultural biomass and for implementing crop residue incorporation practices.
"This agreement demonstrates that high-integrity carbon removal can drive transformative co-benefits for communities and ecosystems," said Madhur Jain, Varaha CEO. "We're not just removing carbon—we're creating economic incentives for farmers to mitigate open burning of crop residues."
The project's first reactor will operate alongside Varaha's 52-acre cotton research farm in Maharashtra, where Varaha works directly with farmers to test sustainable practices, including soil application of biochar, under real-world conditions. With up to 18 total reactors funded across India's cotton belt through Microsoft's commitment, the focus remains clear: scaling quickly while putting farmers first.
Setting New Standards for Asian Carbon Markets
The agreement signals growing recognition of the region's potential for high-quality carbon removal projects. Biochar offers permanent carbon storage on geological timescales while supporting agricultural systems, making it one of the most promising pathways for durable carbon dioxide removal.
"This offtake agreement broadens the diversity of Microsoft's carbon removal portfolio with Varaha's biochar project design that is both scalable and durable. It represents a step forward in scaling biochar CDR growth in Asia and advancing co-benefits for farmers—improved soils, cleaner air, and shared economic opportunity," said Phil Goodman, program director, CDR at Microsoft.
The credits generated through the Varaha program meet rigorous standards for measurement, reporting, and verification, ensuring that each tonne represents genuine, permanent carbon removal.
About Varaha
Varaha is a leading developer of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects in Asia, with a mission of scaling smallholder farmer-led climate solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere and strengthen rural livelihoods. Specializing in regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, biochar, and enhanced rock weathering projects across South Asia, Varaha has pioneered a technology- and science-driven approach to carbon project development since its founding in 2022. Varaha is headquartered in Gurugram, India, and operates 20 carbon projects across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Agreement Calls for Over 100,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) across 3 Years
GURUGRAM, India, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Varaha, a leading developer of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects with smallholder farmers across Asia, today announced a major offtake agreement with Microsoft for biochar carbon removal in India.
Varaha will develop 18 industrial gasification reactors that will operate for 15 years, with a total projected removal volume exceeding 2 million tonnes of CO₂ over the project's lifetime.
The project sources cotton stalks from smallholder farms in Maharashtra, India for use as the feedstock for biochar production. After harvest, these stalks are treated as waste biomass, and open-field burning is a common practice across the region's cotton belt. This project provides an alternative use for the stalks, converting them into biochar through Varaha's biomass gasification facilities and sequestering biogenic carbon for centuries.
Delivering Local Impact
Varaha's biochar project also delivers measurable benefits for farmers and communities:
- Improvement in Air Quality: The project mitigates the widespread burning of cotton crop residue, significantly reducing PM 2.5 pollutants that contribute to poor air quality. By providing an economically viable alternative to field burning, the initiative tackles a major source of seasonal air pollution.
- Promotion of Regenerative Agriculture: Farmers participating in the program adopt regenerative practices like crop residue mulching and biochar application to soils, improving soil health, water retention, and long-term agricultural productivity.
- Lifting Farmer Livelihoods: The program directly enhances the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers, who receive payment both for contributing agricultural biomass and for implementing crop residue incorporation practices.
"This agreement demonstrates that high-integrity carbon removal can drive transformative co-benefits for communities and ecosystems," said Madhur Jain, Varaha CEO. "We're not just removing carbon—we're creating economic incentives for farmers to mitigate open burning of crop residues."
The project's first reactor will operate alongside Varaha's 52-acre cotton research farm in Maharashtra, where Varaha works directly with farmers to test sustainable practices, including soil application of biochar, under real-world conditions. With up to 18 total reactors funded across India's cotton belt through Microsoft's commitment, the focus remains clear: scaling quickly while putting farmers first.
Setting New Standards for Asian Carbon Markets
The agreement signals growing recognition of the region's potential for high-quality carbon removal projects. Biochar offers permanent carbon storage on geological timescales while supporting agricultural systems, making it one of the most promising pathways for durable carbon dioxide removal.
"This offtake agreement broadens the diversity of Microsoft's carbon removal portfolio with Varaha's biochar project design that is both scalable and durable. It represents a step forward in scaling biochar CDR growth in Asia and advancing co-benefits for farmers—improved soils, cleaner air, and shared economic opportunity," said Phil Goodman, program director, CDR at Microsoft.
The credits generated through the Varaha program meet rigorous standards for measurement, reporting, and verification, ensuring that each tonne represents genuine, permanent carbon removal.
About Varaha
Varaha is a leading developer of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects in Asia, with a mission of scaling smallholder farmer-led climate solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere and strengthen rural livelihoods. Specializing in regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, biochar, and enhanced rock weathering projects across South Asia, Varaha has pioneered a technology- and science-driven approach to carbon project development since its founding in 2022. Varaha is headquartered in Gurugram, India, and operates 20 carbon projects across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Varaha Signs Carbon Removal Agreement with Microsoft
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VICTORIA, Seychelles, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MEXC, the fastest-growing global cryptocurrency exchange, redefining a user-first approach to digital assets through true, zero-fee trading today released its 2025 Annual Report. The document outlines a year of intentional transformation, where MEXC evolved from a high-volume platform into a guardian of market integrity, anchored by its foundational commitment to zero-fee trading.
Against a backdrop of industry volatility and heightened security threats, MEXC delivered robust growth in 2025, with futures and spot trading volumes each surging over 130% year-over-year. The exchange served 40 million users and listed 2,287 high-potential projects through its disciplined, list-first approach, distributing over $42.6 million in user rewards.
This performance was powered by MEXC's foundational zero-fee trading strategy, which enabled users to save 1.1 billion USDT in trading fees — an average saving of 320 USDT per user across more than 3,000 spot and futures trading pairs.
In parallel, MEXC engineered a new standard of verifiable trust, introducing monthly Proof of Reserves audits by Hacken, a $100 million Guardian Fund for user protection, and independent third-party oversight of risk controls.
"MEXC has lowered trading barriers through its 0 fee strategy, delivering a measurable impact of more than one billion dollars in improved capital efficiency for our users," said Vugar Usi, Chief Operating Officer of MEXC. "This is not a promotion. It is the foundation of how we operate. In 2026, we will extend this approach beyond crypto as we move into tokenized equities, commodities, and real-world assets."
This strategic expansion is supported by the launch of the MEXC Fund, a $30 million ecosystem investment initiative, and the reinforcement of zero-fee trading as a permanent structural commitment across an expanding multi-asset platform.
MEXC is moving beyond the traditional exchange model to become a seamless gateway to the tokenized future — where markets are accessed with transparency, efficiency, and unwavering trust.
The full 2025 Annual Report is available here.
To see the key moments that defined this record year in action, watch the MEXC 2025 Recap Video here.
About MEXC
Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being "Your Easiest Way to Crypto." Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries and regions, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
MEXC Official Website | X | Telegram | How to Sign Up on MEXC
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MEXC, the fastest-growing global cryptocurrency exchange, redefining a user-first approach to digital assets through true, zero-fee trading today released its 2025 Annual Report. The document outlines a year of intentional transformation, where MEXC evolved from a high-volume platform into a guardian of market integrity, anchored by its foundational commitment to zero-fee trading.
Against a backdrop of industry volatility and heightened security threats, MEXC delivered robust growth in 2025, with futures and spot trading volumes each surging over 130% year-over-year. The exchange served 40 million users and listed 2,287 high-potential projects through its disciplined, list-first approach, distributing over $42.6 million in user rewards.
This performance was powered by MEXC's foundational zero-fee trading strategy, which enabled users to save 1.1 billion USDT in trading fees — an average saving of 320 USDT per user across more than 3,000 spot and futures trading pairs.
In parallel, MEXC engineered a new standard of verifiable trust, introducing monthly Proof of Reserves audits by Hacken, a $100 million Guardian Fund for user protection, and independent third-party oversight of risk controls.
"MEXC has lowered trading barriers through its 0 fee strategy, delivering a measurable impact of more than one billion dollars in improved capital efficiency for our users," said Vugar Usi, Chief Operating Officer of MEXC. "This is not a promotion. It is the foundation of how we operate. In 2026, we will extend this approach beyond crypto as we move into tokenized equities, commodities, and real-world assets."
This strategic expansion is supported by the launch of the MEXC Fund, a $30 million ecosystem investment initiative, and the reinforcement of zero-fee trading as a permanent structural commitment across an expanding multi-asset platform.
MEXC is moving beyond the traditional exchange model to become a seamless gateway to the tokenized future — where markets are accessed with transparency, efficiency, and unwavering trust.
The full 2025 Annual Report is available here.
To see the key moments that defined this record year in action, watch the MEXC 2025 Recap Video here.
About MEXC
Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being "Your Easiest Way to Crypto." Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries and regions, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
MEXC Official Website | X | Telegram | How to Sign Up on MEXC
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
MEXC 2025 Growth Exceeds 130%, Anchored by $1B+ in User Savings from Zero-Fee Trading
