EnSo has been developing a series of new innovative environmental projects in India over the past 12 months, principally based around Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) and Mangrove Restoration.
Trevor Rees, Managing Director of EnSo-Impact, explained how “We have been working with a great set of Indian partners who share our commitment to and interest in nature restoration, carbon dioxide removal, soil health improvements and better outcomes for farmers. There is a fantastic entrepreneurial culture in India, our colleagues in Gujarat are dynamic, collaborative and see the opportunity to scale these solutions to deliver real social impact.”
ERW in Gujarat
In simple terms, the Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) project under development in Gujarat would see basalt dust from local quarries and mines spread on agricultural land as a means of sequestering carbon, with the added benefit of helping soil nutrients to improve crop yields, enhancing farmer incomes.
Mangrove Restoration – Gulf of Khambhat
The Mangrove Restoration initiative in the Gulf of Khambhat aims to restore nearly 6,000 hectares of Avicennia marina mangrove woodland while providing sustainable alternatives (fodder, fuelwood, and crop income) for local communities.
Frugalis Partnership
EnSo has been working closely with Frugalis Bioproducts Ltd to develop both projects. Frugalis is a Norwegian Indian joint venture headquartered in Dehmai, Gujarat. Frugalis’ capacity to undertake such large-scale restoration efforts is grounded in its operational base in Dehmai, which provides cutting-edge facilities for R&D in micropropagation and plant cultivation.
Trevor concluded that “The local knowledge, technical expertise and agricultural footprint of the Frugalis operations are a great foundation. We’ve been working closely with their Indian and Norwegian teams for over a year now and have built close relationships. There is a real shared desire to build and develop these projects in tandem with the local farming communities, sharing the learning, insights and financial benefits that accrue. We have some exciting Indian project plans scheduled for 2025 and look forward to sharing the results in due course.”