Frequently Asked Questions

Science powers our mission to capture and store carbon while creating fertile soil

Soil and climate

Soil is one of the most complex and fascinating ecosystems on earth with vast numbers of microbial cells, representing thousands of species. A teaspoon of soil contains more organisms than there are humans on Earth. Those organisms and the products of their life result in natural organic carbon storage. The world’s soil contains 2-3 times more carbon than the atmosphere, which highlights the scale at which soil can mitigate climate change. Reversing the degradation of soil and increasing the storage of carbon in the top 30-40cm of the soil by just 0.4% per year could stop the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere and thus address one of the most important causes of climate change.

source: The international “4 per 1000” Initiative: Soils for Food Security and Climate. 2021. Web. Accessed [2024].

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing, securing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Stabilising carbon in solid and dissolved forms will effectively keep it from warming up the atmosphere. Carbon is sequestered in soil by plants through photosynthesis and can be stored as soil organic carbon (SOC). Agricultural ecosystems degrade and this leads to a depletion of the SOC levels. These can be raised relatively quickly by new land management practices. [source Fei et al., 2021. Global warming solutions: Carbon capture and storage. E3S Web of Conferences, 308, 01024.]. By applying Humify humus, we biologically enhance the capacity of the soil’s microbiome to sequester carbon [source Tang et al., 2021. Artificial humic substances improve microbial activity for binding CO2. iScience, 24(6),102647.].

The soil’s microbiome is a unique system of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, protozoa and nematodes interacting and relying on each other in both simple and complex ways.

More than 75 % of the Earth’s land areas are substantially degraded and by 2050, 90% of the Earth’s land areas could become degraded.

source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre. (2018). World Atlas of Desertification. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

First, sequestering carbon in soil improves its carbon sink capacity and thus climate change. Second, carbon is the best indicator for healthy soils and therefore a prerequisite for our ability to feed 10 billion people in 2050. [source United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019].

The 4per1000 initiative also advocates the increase of carbon in the soil as a major lever in addressing both climate change and food security.

https://www.4p1000.org/

Humus

Humus is a dark, organic substance created by the decomposition of leaves, plant material, and animal remains by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Humus consists of complex organic molecules, including decomposed proteins, lignin, and cellulose. These molecules are resistant to further breakdown, which gives humus its stable, long-lasting nature. It is a crucial component of soil, contributing to both its fertility and its structure. Fertility is enhanced because humus holds essential nutrients and because it helps to buffer the soil pH, preventing it from becoming too acidic or alkaline, which can affect plant health. Humus improves soil structure by increasing its capacity to retain moisture and air, the key components for root growth and microbial activity. Humus acts as a carbon sink, reducing greenhouse gases and supporting soil microorganisms essential for nutrient cycling.

source: Bundesregierung. “Was ist Humus und Welche Rolle Spielt Er Beim Klimaschutz?” Bundesregierung, Accessed [2024].

Humus and compost are both organic materials important for soil health, but they differ in their formation, composition, and stages of decomposition. Humus is the end product of composting when all the easily digestible organic matter has decomposed. Only then is it considered to be naturally-formed compost, whereas compost as most people know it is man-made organic matter that is already decomposing, usually from food waste. Humus is generally free of pollutants due to the lengthy natural decomposition process whereas compost may contain pollutants like heavy metals, pathogens, and other contaminants if not managed properly. These pollutants and contaminants can be hazardous to groundwater and surface waters. Humus consists of complex organic molecules that are highly resistant to decomposition. This stability is the most important quality of humus as it allows it to store carbon for long periods, effectively keeping it out of the atmosphere and from forming greenhouse gases.

source: Landwirtschaft.de. “Richtig Kompostieren – So Geht’s.” Accessed [2024].

source: Umweltbundesamt. “Humusstatus der Böden.” Accessed [2024].

source: Umweltbundesamt. “Compost and Sewage Sludge.” Accessed [2024].

source: Umweltbundesamt. “Optimierung der Verwertung Organischer Abfälle.” 2018. Accessed [2024].

Humus can be distinguished as nutrient humus and permanent humus. Nutrient humus makes up about a third of the soil humus. It serves as a food source for soil organisms and thus stimulates biological activity in the soil. The nutrients bound there are released quickly and can be used by the plants for growth. The other two thirds become permanent humus. These are very stable compounds that are only broken down very slowly by microorganisms. As a result, the plant nutrients in them are only released in small quantities. Permanent humus is therefore a slow-flowing source of nutrients for plants.

source: Bundesregierung. “Was ist Humus und Welche Rolle Spielt Er Beim Klimaschutz?” Bundesregierung, Accessed [2024].

Humus improves soil quality in a number of ways. First, it can store large amounts of carbon in the soil sustainably. The higher the humus content of the soil, the more carbon is bound. Unlike other forms of organic matter that decompose quickly and release CO2 back into the atmosphere, humus acts as a long-term carbon sink. Second, humus enhances soil fertility and structure by improving water retention, buffering pollutants and stabilizing soil pH. And third, humus sequesters carbon. For example, while arable land (with a decreasing amount of humic substance) stores an average of around 80 tons of carbon per hectare, temperate grasslands store on average more than 200 t/ha  [source Visual Capitalist. “Visualizing Carbon Storage in Earth’s Ecosystems.” Visual Capitalist, 2022, Accessed [2024]. These benefits collectively contribute to healthier ecosystems and a more sustainable environment.

Artificial Humic Substances (A-HS)

Humic substances are complex, organic macromolecules produced by the decomposition of plant and animal residues. They are a major component of soil organic matter and play a crucial role in soil fertility. They improve soil structure, water storage capacity, nutrient availability and microbial activity. Humification is considered the second most important step in the carbon cycle after photosynthesis. Humic substances make up 60-80% of soil and are crucial for maintaining the functioning of its ecosystem which in turn is essential for its capacity for carbon sequestration. Humic substances are categorised into three types based on their solubility in acids and bases: Humic substances, humic acids and fulvic acids.

source: Bundesregierung. “Was ist Humus und Welche Rolle Spielt Er Beim Klimaschutz?” Bundesregierung, Accessed [2024].

Artificial humic substances (A-HS) are materials that are chemically and functionally similar to natural humic substances, but are produced from biomass through a much faster process. While natural humic substances are produced by complex biological processes in the soil over thousands of years, A-HS can be obtained in just a few hours or days by hydrothermal humification (HTH). The higher purity and more defined composition of A-HS make it more effective in application than natural humic substances.

source: Yang et al., 2020. Artificial humic acids: Sustainable materials against climate change. Advanced Science, 7(3), 201902992.

A-HS can positively influence microbial activity in the soil by serving as a food source for microorganisms and promoting their growth. Studies show that A-HS can increase the populations of bacteria and fungi and stimulate the activity of enzymes in the soil that are involved in nutrient cycling.

source: Tang et al., 2021. Artificial humic substances improve microbial activity for binding CO2. iScience, 24(6),102647.

A-HS can be produced from biomass by different processes. Hydrothermal humification (HTH) involves treating biomass in water at raised temperature and pressure. This process mimics natural humification in fast motion producing A-HS with similar properties to natural humic substances.

source: Yang et al., 2020. Artificial humic acids: Sustainable materials against climate change. Advanced Science, 7(3), 201902992.

The use of Humify humus offers several advantages:

Sustainability: A-HS are obtained from renewable raw materials and thus fossil resources are conserved. 

Efficiency: The production of A-HS is much faster than the production of natural humic substances.

Scalability: The HTH technology for the production of A-HS is scalable thus allowing for industrial production.

Control: The composition and properties of A-HS can be controlled more deliberately by the choice of biomass and process parameters to achieve specific properties as required. 

source: Yang et al., 2020. The sleeping giant: A polymer view on humic matter in synthesis and applications. Progress in Polymer Science, 100, 101182.

A-HS have a wide range of applications:

Soil improvement: A-HS can improve soil structure, water holding capacity, nutrient availability and microbial activity.

Carbon sequestration: A-HS can store carbon in the soil long term and thus contribute to climate protection.

Remediation: A-HS can bind pollutants in the soil and thus reduce environmental pollution.

Plant nutrition: A-HS can increase the availability of nutrients in the soil and promote plant growth.

Materials science: A-HS can be used as sustainable raw materials for various applications in materials science. 

source: Yang et al., 2020. Artificial humic acids: Sustainable materials against climate change. Advanced Science, 7(3), 201902992.

A-HS can contribute to carbon sequestration by storing carbon in the soil over the long term. As Humify humus is derived from renewable resources, their production and application can contribute to a closed carbon cycle.

source: Tang et al., 2021. Artificial humic substances improve microbial activity for binding CO2. iScience, 24(6), 102647.

Studies to date indicate that A-HS are safe for the environment and human health. However further research is needed to fully assess the long-term effects of A-HS on different ecosystems and human health.

source: Yang et al., 2021. Natural and artificial humic substances to manage minerals, ions, water, and soil microorganisms. Chemical Society Reviews, 50(6), 6221-6239.

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