Hollywood Meets Soil Health: Natalie Portman Visits betterSoil
More than just a celebrated actor, Natalie is a vocal advocate for environmental sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and plant-based living. Her visit was a powerful symbol of the increasing intersection between celebrity influence, climate action, and earth regeneration technologies.
The Biochar Conversation
During her stop at the Startup Land zone, Natalie was drawn in by a simple display showing charcoal-like particles. That’s where the conversation began. We explained to her and her kids that biochar is a carbon-rich material made by heating agricultural waste in a low-oxygen environment (a process called pyrolysis). This ancient technique, used by Indigenous communities for centuries, is now being revived as a modern-day climate hero. Biochar not only improves soil health, but also:
- Locks carbon in the ground for centuries
- Boosts water retention, especially critical in drought-prone areas
- Enhances nutrient availability, supporting more productive, regenerative farming
Why This Moment Mattered?
Natalie’s daughter (8 years) and her son (13 years) tasted a piece of biochar after Tobias from betterSoil tried one himself. Everyone looked at the kids’ reaction – journalists, filmmakers, the head and organizer of ChangenNOW, Santiago Lefebvre, and many other interested visitors and fans and of course, their mother, Natalie Portman. “What does it taste like?” asked Tobias. The girl looked up smiling and said: “It’s kinda gooood!”. She had the crowd on her side of course, and everyone laughed. The boy was not convinced. He was chewing on a bigger chunk of biochar, and the char did what it was supposed to do: It absorbed all the water like a sponge leaving his mouth dusty and dry. And so was his face. “What the biochar does in your mouth is exactly what it does in the soil when applied to agricultural fields” said Azadeh of betterSoil. “It stores water when it rains and keeps it for the time when water is scarce and the plants need it.” The message came across. Science that you can touch.
Science and Storytelling
Natalie’s visit underscores a growing global awareness: soil is not just dirt. It’s a living ecosystem, and it may be our best ally in reversing climate change. Her engagement reminded us that storytelling and science must go hand in hand to move people and policies toward real change. Natalie Portman’s visit wasn’t just a photo opportunity; it was a moment of education, inspiration, and intergenerational dialogue. Her children left with a deeper understanding of the soil beneath their feet and the idea that even waste can become something regenerative. Biochar, while quiet and grounded, has the potential to make a loud impact on climate-smart farming. As betterSoil we continue to champion soil health, farmer empowerment, and nature-based carbon solutions, we’re grateful to be part of a movement that is both ancient in wisdom and modern in ambition.