Mitti Labs Partners with Nature Conservancy for Climate Action in Indian Agriculture

Mitti Labs and The Nature Conservancy Join Forces for Climate Action

In a significant move towards promoting sustainable farming practices, Mitti Labs, a leading remote sensing company utilizing AI technology, has partnered with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in its innovative PRANA program. This collaboration aims to expedite climate-smart practices among rice farmers in Northwest India, specifically targeting the chronic issues of stubble burning and soil degradation that have plagued the region for years.

The PRANA program, initiated by TNC, focuses on transforming agricultural methods to combat the serious environmental challenges presented by conventional practices. Since its inception in 2022, the program has impacted 18 districts, training thousands of farmers to embrace regenerative practices and manage crop residues more sustainably. The ambitious goal for 2025 is to extend these benefits to over 650,000 farmers across 6,259 villages by conducting more than 21,000 training sessions.

One of the highlights of this initiative is its approach to tackle not just surface-level problems like crop residue management, but deeper systemic issues such as water scarcity, declining soil fertility, and greenhouse gas emissions. The next phase of PRANA will focus on constructing Regenerative Foodscapes, equipping farmers with the necessary resources to adapt to changing climatic conditions while also fostering local agri-entrepreneurship and shaping policies through public-private partnerships.

Mitti Labs has emerged as an essential partner in this initiative, contributing its advanced 'soil-to-sky' technology platform and field expertise. Their high-precision data collection allows for accurate monitoring of practice adoption among farmers and quantifying environmental impacts, which is crucial for facilitating climate financing for farmers and informing policy shifts that can reach larger populations.

Xavi Laguarta, co-founder of Mitti Labs, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to see the positive impacts of our collaboration with The Nature Conservancy. Transitioning countless farming communities in NW India towards climate-smart practices reaffirms our commitment to harnessing rice farming as a tool for climate action." Importantly, this partnership promises added advantages, including water conservation and enhanced farmer earnings.

For instance, the PRANA program is expected to conserve an astounding 500 billion liters of water—equal to what a mid-sized city consumes in a year.

At the center of the PRANA initiative are modern agricultural techniques such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), and no-burn residue management, all aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving overall soil and air quality.

Founded in 2023, Mitti Labs works with around 30,000 farmers to cut down methane emissions from rice production—an industry notorious for its significant contributions to global greenhouse gases. It is estimated that rice farming alone is responsible for approximately 1 gigaton of CO2 equivalent emissions annually, much like the aviation industry's impact.

Mitti Labs operates on the cutting edge of monitoring greenhouse gases, boasting the most sophisticated digital Measurement, Reporting and Verification (dMRV) system tailored for rice farming. With a mere two years in operation, the team has accomplished an impressive feat—expanding their monitoring capabilities to cover 10 million hectares, which is equivalent to around 25% of India's total rice cultivation area.

Moreover, the relationship with NASA reinforces Mitti's credibility and potential for groundbreaking work in this area. Having recently secured a Phase II NASA SBIR Ignite grant worth $850,000, the company is poised to further its mission of monitoring greenhouse gas emissions to make real environmental impacts through access to high-quality carbon credits.

Punjab, recognized for its fertile lands, faces unique challenges as nearly two million farmers transition annually from rice to wheat due to climate stressors. The practice of burning rice straw and husk—representing 90% of the crop biomass—stands out as a major contributor to CO2 pollution and respiratory diseases, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions.

In summary, the partnership between Mitti Labs and The Nature Conservancy represents a meaningful stride towards sustainable agricultural practices that are vital for both farmers and the environment. As climate challenges grow, initiatives like PRANA are essential in paving the way for a more sustainable future in agriculture.