Google has committed to purchasing 1 million carbon credits from the Indian climate-tech startup Mitti Labs. The four-year agreement, which runs through 2030, focuses on reducing methane emissions in rice farming across the Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
The initiative encourages farmers to adopt techniques that reduce the duration of field flooding. According to Mitti Labs, this method can lower methane emissions by approximately 50% and decrease irrigation water usage by about 40% without impacting crop yields. At its peak, the project will cover 100,000 hectares.
Founded in 2023, Mitti Labs utilizes a GeoAI platform that integrates satellite radar imagery with field data to monitor soil moisture and flooding. The startup, which operates out of New York and Bengaluru, currently supports over 100,000 farmers and aims to scale its reach to millions by 2030.
The credits issued under this deal will be certified by Gold Standard or Isometric following independent third-party verification. While the current project is restricted to India, Mitti Labs plans to enter the Philippines later this year, with further expansion into Indonesia and other Southeast Asian markets scheduled for 2027.
