Novihum Tech - Coal for Water Adaptation Booster Improving soil health leads to higher yields and healthier plants. Novihum Technologies produces a nutrient-rich permanent humus granulate made from lignite (coal) which improves poor and degraded soils, improves plant resilience to drought, and increases plant yield by between 10-50 per cent. Like biochar, this can quickly stabilise agricultural land, boost food security and productivity, as well as cut water use & irrigation. IMPACT: GHG mitigation, sustainable food production, climate impact, enhanced productivity, cutting water use STAGE: Founded in 2012 Germany, the company has attracted venture capital from investors in Europe and USA. It receives funding from Climate-KIC flagship Climate Smart Agriculture Booster from 2016-19 to involve academic partner, Brandenburgische Technische Universität (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg SCALE: A pilot plant has been built in 2016 in Dortmund, Germany, with a total capacity of 1,000 t/a and 25 employees. It will help restore land lost to agriculture and could reduce the need for irrigation in drought stricken geographies. CSAb will build a network of partners and studies in the area of soil health.