The task of addressing climate change is far from being a small one. However, one only needs to ask methane reduction developers like Mitti Labs. Notably, the New York-based startup is reshaping agriculture by focusing on one of the most overlooked climate challenges. This is known as methane emissions from rice paddies. Additionally, methane is far more potent, irrespective of the dominance of carbon dioxide over headlines. Similarly, this development traps 82 times more heat over 20 years. Rice farming alone contributes between 10% and 12% of human-caused methane emissions, making it a significant focus for climate innovators.
It is also worth mentioning that Mitti Labs has built technology that measures methane release from rice paddies. This data then guides farmers toward adopting climate-friendly practices that reduce emissions while boosting farm productivity. Conversely, in many high-tech solutions, this approach is grounded in partnerships with local communities. Farmers are trained directly in methods that cut emissions without hurting yields. It’s an ambitious, high-touch model, which is the kind of work that venture capitalists typically avoid due to cost and complexity. Yet Mitti has managed to secure funding through a partnership.
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The company has formed collaborations with leading organisations, including The Nature Conservancy. They jointly promote regenerative and no-burn agriculture. These partnerships enable Mitti to extend its technology and programs to more farmers, particularly in India, where rice cultivation is dominant and smallholders form the backbone of the agricultural sector.
Partnerships Driving Methane Reduction in Rice Farming
Through its partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Mitti Labs is now using AI-powered models to measure, report, and verify project outcomes. Local workers, many of whom are from the very villages where projects are implemented, handle daily operations. “Most of the project operations on the ground are from locals,” co-founder Xavier Laguarta explained, showing the grassroots nature of their work.
Currently, Mitti Labs focuses on the methane reduction from rice farming, but its vision extends beyond this. The company plans to expand its software solutions to third-party developers and corporations. The measurement of Scope 3 emissions, which organisations don’t directly control, allowed Mitti creates a SaaS-like model. “Anyone already running projects with rice farmers can use our solution,” Laguarta said.
Mitti isn’t alone in this model. Mati Carbon, which recently won the XPRIZE Carbon Grand Prize, also develops measurement, reporting, and verification software. Their focus is on enhanced rock weathering, a method where minerals spread on farmland both remove carbon and fertilise the soil.
How Methane Reduction Creates Farmer Benefits
Methane reduction projects also generate carbon credits, a valuable financial tool in the fight against climate change. Mitti tracks these credits with its software, ensuring transparency in how they’re sold. The company then shares revenue with farmers and communities. According to Mitti, farmers typically see about a 15% increase in earnings by joining these programs. For smallholders, often operating on razor-thin margins, this additional revenue can mean the difference between sustainability and financial struggle.
The technology itself relies heavily on satellite imagery and radar. These tools can penetrate through clouds, water, and vegetation to reveal conditions underground. This data is then fed into AI models trained on both remote sensing and field study results. The result is an accurate measurement of methane reduction at scale, without the need for expensive on-the-ground equipment. For smallholder farms, which average just one hectare, such remote verification makes participation affordable and practical.
Rice farming differs from other agricultural practices because fields remain flooded for much of the year. This creates oxygen-free conditions that allow microbes to thrive. In addition, this development, will generate methane as they metabolise organic matter. Upon tracking these processes, Mitti can help farmers adjust water usage, planting methods, and other practices to reduce emissions while preserving productivity.
Scaling Methane Across Asia
Ninety per cent of rice is grown in Asia. Except for China, most rice-growing regions rely on smallholder farmers with similar challenges. Mitti’s model, combining satellite-based measurement, AI-powered verification, and grassroots partnerships, is uniquely suited to these contexts. Their deep collaboration with The Nature Conservancy on Methane reduction ensures that climate-friendly practices spread beyond pilot projects into scalable regional programs.
When you limit aligning methane reduction with farmer profitability, Mitti addresses two challenges at once. One is environmental sustainability and rural economic resilience. Farmers gain new income streams through carbon credits, while global emissions decline. Partnerships with trusted nonprofits and investors create the support needed to sustain and expand these initiatives.
Methane reduction may not sound glamorous, but its impact is immense. Each step taken in rice paddies across Asia reduces a greenhouse gas more destructive than carbon dioxide. With the right partnerships and technology, companies like Mitti Labs are proving that smallholder farmers can be climate heroes. Their efforts show that tackling methane at the source is not only possible but also profitable, scalable, and essential for the planet’s future.
