Google Commits to Largest Rice Methane Credit Purchase from Mitti Labs
Google will buy one million carbon credits from Mitti Labs through 2030, covering rice farms in three Indian states. The deal aims to cut methane emissions by about half and reduce irrigation water use by 40% without hurting yields. Mitti Labs uses satellite radar and field data to monitor the farms.
Mitti Labs' monitoring relies on a GeoAI platform that fuses satellite radar imagery, with resolutions from 50 centimeters to 10 meters, with direct field observations to train its models. The credits sold to Google are certified by Gold Standard or Isometric and pass independent third-party verification prior to issuance.
The startup currently collaborates with over 100,000 farmers, and this agreement stands as its largest offtake contract. Looking ahead, Mitti Labs intends to begin operations in the Philippines later this year, followed by expansion into Indonesia and other Southeast Asian markets in 2027, targeting a regional base of roughly 150 million rice growers.
This deal could channel substantial climate finance directly to Indian smallholder farmers, offering them financial rewards for reducing water usage and methane output, potentially improving local livelihoods and water security. For Google, it may provide a vital mechanism to counterbalance emissions from its expanding AI operations. Furthermore, this large-scale purchase could encourage other major technology firms to invest in agricultural methane reduction, potentially scaling similar initiatives across developing regions.