Groundwork BioAg Issues First US Carbon Credits via Mycorrhizal Fungi

The Rootella Carbon program represents a departure from traditional regenerative practices by focusing on the formation of Mineral-Associated Organic Matter, which remains stable for centuries. By leveraging mycorrhizal fungi, the company reports sequestration rates of 1.5 to 3.5 tons of CO2 equivalent per acre annually—a figure roughly five times higher than standard no-till or cover cropping methods. This verification by SCS Global confirms the project’s compliance with the rigorous Verra framework, establishing a durable, nature-based alternative to costlier carbon removal technologies.

Participation in the program has expanded rapidly, growing from 9,000 acres in 2023 to more than 700,000 acres of cropland today across the US Midwest and Canadian Prairies. Under this grower-centric model, farmers receive up to 70% of net proceeds from credit sales. CEO Alon Werber stated that the company aims to scale significantly, targeting the removal of one million tons of CO2 equivalent over the next two years. With an addressable market of 450 million acres of reduced-tillage farmland in the Americas, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between biological soil enhancement and the voluntary carbon market.