January 2, 2026 (Cape Cod, MA) – The Cape Cod Technology Council will kick off the new year by welcoming organic farmer and entrepreneur Bob Wells of Eastham, to talk about the wonder and promise of biochar.
“There are well over 50 uses for biochar that I know if,” said Wells, the owner of New England Biochar which he founded in 2009 after discovering the positive impact it had on the crops he grows at Redberry Farm in Eastham. “For me, personally, it changed my life. I was trying to grow blueberries, vegetables, and turnips when I discovered biochar. Eventually, making biochar became more important and valuable to me than growing food.”
Wells will discuss the many uses of biochar and the work his company is doing on Friday, January 9, 7:30-9 am, at Cape Cod Community College. To register for the talk, which includes breakfast as well as an opportunity to network, visit https://cctechcouncil.org/.
“We’re excited to start 2026 by learning about a product that has widespread uses while positively impacting the environment,” said Tech Council Executive Director Michael White. “Through his own experimentation with biochar, Bob Wells has shown how its benefits extend not only locally, but regionally and even globally.”
Since launching New England Biochar, Wells has focused his efforts on “getting people interested in biochar. When people see the value of it, they will start using it and learn more about how it can be applied across various systems.”
Biochar is a soil amendment that is created cleanly and efficiently from waste biomass that includes wood and brush. At his company, Wells has designed a process in which he can make biochar that is over 90 percent carbon while strictly limiting the amount of smoke released in the atmosphere.
The resulting biochar can be used in multiple applications, including agriculture; concrete; paving; filtration systems; stormwater remediation; and wastewater management, among other areas.
It also addresses the negative impacts of climate change by capturing and sequestering carbon in the ground and preventing it from returning into the atmosphere in the form of CO2.
Along with selling biochar products, New England Biochar has designed and built biochar production equipment which has been installed for customers throughout the United States as well as in China, Indonesia, and Chile.
Wells regularly shares his knowledge about biochar and the positive difference it makes with groups, schools, universities, and conferences locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
About Cape Cod Technology Council
Founded in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, the Cape Cod Technology Council, Inc. is a membership-based, events-oriented nonprofit that promotes technology and its understandings on Cape Cod, the Islands, and in Southeastern Massachusetts. The Council’s work includes supporting the direction of development of the technology infrastructure in the region to advance the growth, effectiveness, and competitiveness of member organizations; assist in the technology education for the advancement of its members as well as future generations through a variety of programs; and provide unique, meaningful, and topical presentations, discussions, forums, and events focused on technology. To learn more about the Technology Council, visit www.cctechcouncil.org.