Founder Story – Terraxy | Saudi FoodTech
In a world increasingly challenged by desertification, poor soil quality, and water scarcity, Terraxy emerged as a bold, science-driven solution with global ambition. This is the story of how a breakthrough in a KAUST laboratory grew into a pioneering Saudi startup shaping the future of sustainable agriculture in arid regions.
- How did the idea for Terraxy first emerge, and what inspired you to take it from the lab at KAUST to the field?
The seed for Terraxy was planted during Adair Gallo’s PhD research at KAUST, under the supervision of Prof. Himanshu Mishra. The duo was exploring soil enhancement technologies to improve agriculture in arid environments, but a recurring challenge was the unsuitability of biochar—despite its promise—due to its high pH and other chemical limitations in desert soils.
After years of R&D, they developed a proprietary treatment process that neutralized biochar’s limitations. The results were so transformative that keeping them within academic walls wasn’t an option. The team knew the technology had to reach the field. Thus, Terraxy was born, with a mission embedded in its name: “Terra” (Earth) and “XY” (engineering)—engineering soils for a better Earth.
- What problem were you aiming to solve in arid soil fertility, and what makes Terraxy’s approach unique?
Soils in arid regions are dry, nutrient-poor, and incapable of supporting long-term plant growth. Solutions like peat moss are environmentally harmful and imported at high cost. Terraxy’s solution—Carbosoil—is the first biochar-based soil amendment engineered specifically for arid, alkaline environments. It retains water, enhances nutrient availability, improves plant growth, and stores carbon for centuries—all in a single application.
Unlike other short-term solutions, Carbosoil transforms the soil fundamentally. It turns biomass waste into a climate-positive product that helps regenerate the very soils most at risk from climate change.
- Can you walk us through the early transition from academic research to founding a company?
The turning point came during field trials at KAUST’s experimental farm. Plants grown with Carbosoil not only survived but thrived. This data drew attention from giga-projects and national sustainability initiatives. With KAUST’s support through incubation, funding, and mentorship, Terraxy transitioned from lab-scale R&D to pilot production.
This stage involved scaling production from kilos to tonnes and learning about manufacturing and market dynamics while staying grounded in scientific integrity.
- What were the biggest technical or market challenges in scaling Carbosoil?
Scaling the chemical treatment process while maintaining precision and affordability was a significant challenge. Terraxy overcame this by designing a continuous production line and collaborating with experienced chemical engineers.
On the market side, biochar had a poor reputation in the region due to past failures. The team focused on transparency and built trust by running large-scale demos and sharing performance data publicly. This strategy turned early skepticism into strong commercial interest.
- Sustainability is central to Terraxy—how do you define and measure impact?
Terraxy defines sustainability across two key pillars: soil restoration and carbon sequestration. Each cubic meter of Carbosoil locks in carbon from biomass that would otherwise emit CO₂ and earns verified carbon credits. The company tracks improvements in soil water retention, nutrient levels, and plant survival rates in harsh environments, while aligning with global standards for carbon removal.
Today, over 90% of all carbon credits from biochar worldwide have been issued in just the past three years. Terraxy now leads the charge in making biochar effective for arid regions, unlocking a vital tool for combating desertification.
- How do Terraxy’s innovations align with Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s sustainability goals?
Terraxy plays a direct role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by enabling sustainable landscaping, reducing water use, and supporting local food production. Their work contributes to the Saudi Green Initiative by planting native trees and improving green cover in areas like Wadi Qudaid National Park and NEOM’s Mneifa Reserve.
Carbosoil empowers the Kingdom to become a leader in climate innovation while improving soil health and food security for future generations.
- What is your long-term vision for Terraxy?
Terraxy’s ambition is to become the soil solution of choice for Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects, landscaping companies, and growers. A new production facility with a 20,000 m³ annual capacity will be the next milestone. Globally, Terraxy envisions hubs across arid regions from North Africa to Australia, supplying Carbosoil as the gold standard for long-term soil enhancement and carbon sequestration.
Their goal? Position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in engineered carbon capture through sustainable soil transformation.
- What advice would you give to science-driven entrepreneurs?
Start with the real-world problem, not just the invention. Validate your idea with real customers early, and be ready to iterate. Build a multidisciplinary team, and stay laser-focused on value creation. In short: get out of the lab, build fast, fail smart, and keep listening to the market.
Terraxy is more than a startup—it’s a blueprint for how Saudi scientific innovation can solve global challenges. By engineering soils and capturing carbon, Terraxy is restoring ecosystems and building a greener, more resilient future—one cubic meter at a time.
