Valorization of pine needles to biochar production: An initiative towards sustainable agriculture and circular economy

Forest litter accumulation, particularly pine needles (Pinus roxburghii), offers considerable environmental and ecological concerns in many mountainous regions due to recurring forest fires, air pollution and inefficient biomass utilization. Despite its abundance, lignocellulosic residue is largely underutilized as a renewable carbon source. Growing interest in sustainable biomass management has emphasized thermochemical conversion, specifically pyrolysis as a viable approach for converting such residue into value-added products within circular bioeconomy frameworks. This review focuses on current advances in biomass management and the sustainable use of pine needles, with a focus on developing large-scale biochar synthesis strategies and process optimization for effective biomass valorization. Furthermore, environmental significance of biochar is highlighted, including its use in pollutant remediation, soil regeneration and long-term carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation. Integrating sustainable biomass consumption with scalable biochar technology for production is an intriguing approach to resource recovery, ecological restoration and the advancement of circular economy strategies.