CarbonFarm Raises €7M to Cut Rice Methane

Paris-based CarbonFarm has raised €7 million to measure and support methane reductions in rice production, where changing water-management practices could substantially reduce agricultural emissions.

What happened

The oversubscribed Series A was led by Colam Impact, with participants including Proparco, Suma Capital, elea, Working Capital Fund and Bpifrance. CarbonFarm combines satellite imagery, AI analysis, field records and greenhouse-gas modelling to estimate rice-field emissions and monitor changes in cultivation practices. Its monitoring, reporting and verification platform is designed to support climate projects and potential carbon-credit certification. The company also works on project development, financing and relationships with buyers. CarbonFarm reports activity across 19 countries and collaborations with agricultural and food organisations. Its measurements are model-based estimates that must be validated for individual projects rather than treated as exact direct measurements of methane released.

Why it matters

Flooded rice fields can create conditions in which microorganisms generate methane. Practices such as alternate wetting and drying may lower emissions, but applying them across many small farms and demonstrating the results is operationally difficult. Better field-level data could make projects more credible for growers, buyers and financiers.

The bigger picture

Agricultural decarbonisation depends on both changing production practices and proving that changes deliver genuine benefits. CarbonFarm is building the measurement and project infrastructure between farmers and climate finance. Its long-term value will depend on transparent methods, independent verification, farmer economics and durable reductions.