Mitti Labs, a startup based in New York, focuses on addressing climate change by measuring methane emissions from rice paddies. The company has developed technology that assists farmers in adopting environmentally friendly practices, which often requires significant engagement with local communities. Despite the challenges typically associated with such high-touch projects, Mitti has successfully secured funding through strategic partnerships.
One key collaboration is with The Nature Conservancy, aimed at promoting regenerative, no-burn agricultural practices in India. Mitti utilizes AI-driven models to measure and validate the efforts of the nonprofit’s workers, who are assisting local farmers in implementing sustainable farming techniques. These project operations primarily involve locals, according to co-founder Xavier Laguarta.
Currently, Mitti concentrates on reducing methane emissions from rice farming but is also looking to expand its software offerings for third parties. The company provides tools that can calculate Scope 3 emissions for other developers or corporations involved with rice farmers. This Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model is gaining traction in the industry.
Mitti’s initiatives yield carbon credits, which the company tracks using its software. Mitti retains a portion of the revenue from credit sales, with the remainder benefiting farmers and local communities. Typically, participating farmers experience about a 15% increase in their income, which can have a substantial impact for smallholders who operate on narrow profit margins.
The company’s data collection relies on satellite imagery and radar to observe underground microbial activity that contributes to methane production. Since rice fields are flooded for extended periods, they create conditions conducive to methane-generating microbes. This approach aids in managing costs associated with monitoring, especially given the prevalence of smallholder farms in India, where an average farm size is approximately one hectare.
Laguarta noted that 90% of the world’s rice is grown in Asia, and the smallholder farmer dynamic is prevalent in many regions, making the partnerships essential for implementing climate-friendly farming practices across various landscapes.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/26/how-one-ai-startup-is-helping-rice-farmers-battle-climate-change/