In a major breakthrough for climate-smart agriculture, EarthOptics has launched the first scalable mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy–based carbon testing solution, offering high-integrity soil carbon and texture data at a significantly reduced cost.
The new technology opens the door for more producers, carbon project developers, and sustainability programs to participate in carbon markets and Scope 3 reporting—without the usual time, cost, and data barriers.
The solution combines automated MIR workflows with soil texture analysis, drastically accelerating the process of testing, modeling, and verifying soil carbon content. Unlike traditional lab-intensive methods, EarthOptics’ approach slashes labor, increases throughput, and still delivers registry-quality results, potentially compatible with standards like Verra.
“This is a game-changer for soil carbon measurement,” said Lars Dyrud, CEO of EarthOptics. “For the first time, carbon project developers and sustainability leaders can access affordable, high-quality carbon data—at scale—without sacrificing rigor or accuracy.”
Why It Matters for Farmers and Ag Stakeholders
EarthOptics’ new carbon solution is tailored for broad adoption across agriculture, with benefits including:
- Registry-quality data for carbon credit programs and Scope 3 supply chain reporting
- Lower cost per sample, enabling more widespread testing
- Rapid turnaround times thanks to automation and integrated texture analysis
- Commercial scalability for large-acreage farms and enterprise ESG initiatives
- Improved precision for field-level management and modeling
For farmers and ranchers already exploring regenerative or climate-smart practices, this technology could reduce the financial and logistical hurdles often associated with verifying soil carbon gains. It also helps brands and supply chains back up sustainability claims with lab-grade, field-validated data.
“Our goal is to remove the barriers to widespread soil carbon measurement and accelerate climate-smart agriculture,” said Britt Buchanan, SVP of Sales at EarthOptics. “By offering soil texture and fertility insights at a low incremental price, we’re delivering comprehensive, lab-grade data at a fraction of traditional costs, making it easier than ever to scale climate-smart practices with confidence.”
More Than Just Carbon
Alongside carbon data, EarthOptics includes soil texture insights in its reports, helping producers better understand how different zones in a field retain moisture, store nutrients, and respond to inputs. This dual analysis supports more accurate soil modeling and more targeted agronomic decision-making.
About EarthOptics
EarthOptics uses advanced soil sensing, genomics, and data science to deliver actionable insights into the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. With operations and labs across the U.S., their mission is to make sustainable, profitable farming more accessible through better soil intelligence.
Learn more at www.earthoptics.com.