Paris, 16 July 2025 — CarbonFarm is proud to announce a strategic partnership with InQube for the development of a Gold Standard rice carbon project in Bengal and Eastern India. The project drives the adoption of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) of rice paddies, a methodology that reduces methane emissions from rice farming by 50% and reduces water consumption by 30%.
As the world’s largest rice exporter and second-biggest producer, India grows around 18 million tonnes of rice each year across 44.4 million hectares of land. Traditional rice cultivation methods, such as continuously flooded paddies, are still widely used across India, resulting in significant methane emissions — a greenhouse gas that has 84 times the warming power of CO₂ over a 20-year period. Curbing these emissions can rapidly impact near-term global warming reduction targets. Rice cultivation also consumes large quantities of freshwater (around 3,000 liters per kilogram of rice) which puts additional pressure on water resources in a country already grappling with frequent and severe droughts.
With complementary capabilities in remote sensing, carbon markets, and on-ground implementation, this partnership is positioned to deliver a high-integrity rice carbon project.
CarbonFarm is a France-based climate-tech startup that pioneered the first satellite-based MRV technology tailored for rice farming. Its innovative solution enables transparent monitoring of farming practices, allowing to scientifically measure emissions and water consumption. Through this collaboration, CarbonFarm also brings expertise in project certification and carbon credit sales.
InQube, with presence in India and the UK, is developing farmer-centric carbon projects targeting over 50 million tonnes in reductions over 10 years across the farm-food-forestry value chain. As project developer, InQube leads ground implementation, working closely with farmers and local authorities to support the adoption of sustainable farming practices.
Both parties are committed to upholding high standards of transparency and credibility, improving farmers’ livelihoods and accelerating the transition toward sustainable rice farming.