Mitti Labs aims to transform rice farming in India
By reducing its harmful environmental impact. Co-founded by Harvard Business School graduates Xavier Laguarta and Devdut Dalal, the startup focuses on minimizing methane emissions and water wastage through advanced technology solutions. The firm recently raised $3 million in equity investment to support these efforts, aiming to reduce methane emissions by 50% and water consumption by 30% using high-resolution satellite imagery and on-ground gas chambers.
Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Farming
Rice, a staple crop for over half of the world’s population, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, is cultivated using traditional methods that result in substantial methane emissions and excessive water usage. With around 3,000 liters of water required for every kilogram of rice, the environmental impact is significant. Methane, nearly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the atmosphere, underscores the urgency for sustainable practices in rice farming.
Mitti Labs, headquartered in New York City with a subsidiary in Bengaluru, India, launched in May last year. The world’s second-largest rice producer, India, faces significant climate change challenges, including declining water levels and increasing methane emissions. Mitti Labs aims to address these issues head-on.
Founders with a Vision
Laguarta and Dalal conceptualized Mitti Labs during their MBA program at Harvard Business School. Laguarta brings experience in sustainability consulting, while Dalal has a background in the food and agricultural supply chain. CTO Nathan Torbick, the third co-founder, is an expert in remote sensing technology and brings further expertise to the team.
Measuring Emissions and Selling Carbon Credits
Rice farming is responsible for about half of the greenhouse gas emissions from croplands, including 30% of agricultural methane emissions. Farms can significantly reduce these emissions by improving water management techniques like alternating wetting and drying. Mitti Labs, in collaboration with the Syngenta Foundation, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation, and Ebro Foods, has launched five projects across India to help farmers adopt sustainable practices. These projects cover 30,000 hectares and aim to cut 120,000 metric tonnes of CO2e emissions.
Engaging Farmers and Implementing Technology
Mitti Labs works with more than 40,000 smallholder farmers, embedding and measuring sustainable practices to improve the environmental impact of rice farming. The startup also helps farmers increase their annual incomes by up to 30% through the sale of carbon credits. These credits are earned by the farmers for their sustainable practices and can be sold to companies or organizations looking to offset their carbon footprint.
Advanced Remote-Sensing Technology
Mitti Labs uses a remote-sensing platform to measure climate impact with satellite imagery. The startup combines high-resolution imagery from synthetic aperture radars (SARs) with openly available satellite data to monitor farmers’ practices. This technology helps measure water levels, soil moisture, and plant growth. Additionally, on-ground gas chambers capture methane and nitrous oxide fluxes, with data processed by third-party labs to calculate emissions.
Carbon Credits and Future Expansion
Mitti Labs has collaborated with Cornell University, the International Rice Research Institute, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to refine its measurement practices for carbon credits. The startup works with Gold Standard to issue carbon credits but plans to expand to Verra as it scales.
Scaling Up and Future Plans
With its initial success, Mitti Labs is preparing to scale up. The startup has ten more projects in development and plans to expand into Bangladesh, Thailand, and Vietnam. This expansion not only signifies Mitti Labs’ commitment to its mission but also holds the promise of a more sustainable future for rice farming in these regions.
Mitti Labs is revolutionizing rice farming in India with its innovative approach to sustainable agriculture. By leveraging advanced technology and collaborating with local farmers, the startup is making significant strides in reducing methane emissions and water consumption. This collaborative effort is not just about the work of Mitti Labs, but also about the collective impact we can make on the environment and the livelihoods of rice farmers.
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