Matti Carbon, a New York-based carbon tech startup, is continuing the battle against climate change through new technology. They figured out a way to accurately measure methane emissions from rice paddies. Rice farming is responsible for roughly 10% to 12% of all anthropogenic methane emissions. This occurs largely because of the practice of farmers flooding their fields for much of the year. The company’s innovations are designed to help millions of farmers quickly adopt climate-friendly practices—and save costs while doing it.
Matti Carbon co-founder Xavier Laguarta explained why they focus on a circular economy. “Ninety percent of rice is grown in Asia, and outside of potentially China, the majority of rice growing regions have these similar smallholder farmer dynamics,” he stated. This creates a great opportunity for Matti Carbon. The power he wields to affect tighter restrictions for areas where rice agriculture is most abundant. He can have an enormous impact.
Amasia has built measurement, reporting and verification software tailored to enhanced rock weathering. This technology distributes upcycled minerals onto agricultural fields. It’s a natural process that not only “draws down” carbon from the atmosphere – directly combating climate change – but nourishes the soil as well. This dual benefit not only helps with climate mitigation, but gives farmers agricultural benefits as well.
Matti Carbon’s integration of remotely sensed data is key in maintaining verification costs within reason. The startup works directly with farmers to help encourage more sustainable farming practices. Through this partnership, we expect to provide substantial environmental benefits.
Laguarta went on to explain the direct financial incentives for farmers participating in their programs. “Usually, farmers will see about a 15% improvement in their bottom line by joining our programs,” he said. This improvement aligns with the company’s broader mission to create a win-win scenario where environmental sustainability goes hand in hand with economic viability.
Tim De Chant is a senior climate reporter at TechCrunch and a lecturer in MIT’s Graduate Program in Science Writing. Since his Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT in 2018, he’s been focused on climate technologies and innovative business models for journalism. De Chant holds a PhD in environmental science, policy, and management from the University of California, Berkeley. Before that, he got a BA in environmental studies, English, and biology from St. Olaf College. His new reflections on climate initiatives, released through the Aspen Institute, highlight the urgent challenge for creative approaches in ag.
Through a close collaboration with the Nature Conservancy, Matti Carbon is able to create tools that go far beyond just rice farming. “A deep partnership that we have with the Nature Conservancy allows us to develop these tools that can then be used for a lot of other programs in the region,” Laguarta noted. This partnership increases the chances of wider applications of their technology in farms big and small, from soy and corn monocultures to specialty crops.
Matti Carbon’s methodology goes a step further by accounting for Scope 3 emissions retirement from agribusiness project developers or corporations partnered with rice farmers. This new capability would not only allow for detailed tracking of emissions, but encourage transparency and accountability across all parties engaged in agricultural production.
Climate change is perhaps the most important challenge we face as a planet and a country. Earth-friendly innovations from Matti Carbon provide one promising alternative to excessive agricultural carbon emissions. By focusing on rice farming, which has significant implications for methane emissions, they contribute to a larger movement aimed at reducing agricultural impacts on the environment.
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