How carbon capture specialist Boomitra plans to scale regen ag in Brazil
Boomitra works by helping farmers adopt agricultural practices that increase carbon sequestration. The company then quantifies the additional carbon captured and works with international standards bodies to create carbon credits. Boomitra then sells the carbon credits to corporations and governments worldwide, enabling them to meet their sustainability goals. Most of the proceeds of the sale are then shared with the farmer.
Boomitra, which means ‘Friend of the Earth’ in Sanskrit, is powered by AI and remote sensing technology. Via an ecosystem of international partners, Boomitra wants to equip every farmer and rancher to increase their soil carbon and yields, while securing additional income through carbon credits.
An 2023 Earthshot Prize winner, Boomitra’s says its projects have benefited over 150,000 farmers on four continents, covering five million acres. With 100 global partners, Boomitra has removed 10 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere.
Its latest partnership is with Terra Carbono, a sustainable land management organisation in Brazil. The Terra Carbono mission is centered on enhancing productivity, optimising soil health, and fostering a culture of balanced and prosperous agriculture and livestock farming within rural communities.
The partnership, projected to cover 1.5 million acres across Brazil, will expand Boomitra's project footprint in the country and build upon its existing grassland restoration project that spans across Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Promoting environmental stewardship
The initial focus of the partnership will be working with producers and ranchers in six states in Brazil with plans to extend coverage nationwide in the coming year.
"This exclusive partnership will revolutionise sustainable land management practices in Brazil," said Clovis Pontes, Executive Director of Terra Carbono. "As Brazil aims to lead the carbon credits market, initiatives like this play a pivotal role in achieving our environmental objectives."
Boomitra’s partnership with Terra Carbono hopes introduce sustainable agriculture and grassland management practices with farmers and ranchers across Brazil. For ranchers, the collaboration will introduce regenerative practices such as integrated-crop-livestock management, rotational grazing, holistic planned grazing, and improved water management techniques. For farmers, the partnership will promote regenerative agriculture methods such as minimal tillage, cover cropping, and no-till farming. The program, free for the farmers and ranchers, aims to enhance soil health, increase biodiversity, sequester carbon, and improve overall land resilience.
Boomitra’s technology aims to ensure precise and cost-effective measurement of carbon sequestration levels, certifying them as trusted carbon removal credits through third-party verification. This process not only acknowledges farmers' crucial role in climate change mitigation but also rewards them for their efforts, offering additional income streams while bolstering agricultural resilience and global food security.
Boomitra’s technology makes it possible for landowners with plots as small as an acre to participate in the carbon finance market. Furthermore, the majority of revenue from each soil carbon credit is given directly to the farmers and ranchers, allowing them to reinvest in their lands and communities.
Aadith Moorthy, CEO and Founder of Boomitra, said, "We are thrilled to extend our project footprint in South America. This expansion aligns with our mission to drive climate solutions on a gigaton scale and support farmers and ranchers in the Global South, who are among the most impacted by climate change."
Speaking with AgTechNavigator, he elaborated, “One of those areas where it’s very interesting to do more both to enhance soils and enable agricultural decarbonisation is Brazil because it’s a tropical country. Things grow fast and there are multiple growing seasons in many parts. There are a lot of things that can be done that can lead to really good outcomes for carbons sequestration.” He said the new partnership offers farms in some parts of Brazil the opportunity to get their projects certified by Verra, the world's biggest certifier of voluntary carbon offsets.
Famers will get a free management software tool to assist projects and might get get help with finance offerings for any upfront costs.
“With grasslands, there’s variety of different things of potential for optimising the rotation and plant grazing and proper science-backed management plan,” he said. “Beyond that we will also see some of the growers adopting integrated crop and livestock and forestry systems. This is a major upcoming practice in the Cerado, so there’s a lot to be explored.
Integrated crop, livestock and forestry (ICLF) is production strategy that integrates agriculture, livestock and planted forests in varying combinations. Research conducted in various regions in Brazil has indicated these systems contribute to the preservation of soil quality, water conservation, better animal performance by increasing thermal comfort, and mitigation of the effects of greenhouse gasses.
“On the crop land there will be cover cropping encouraged in regions where it’s not common,” he added. “People are already minimal and no-till farming, and they will be encouraged to continue that."
