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Andes Microbial Carbon Mineralization
Applying microorganisms alongside crop seeds to accelerate the natural mineralization of atmospheric CO₂ in soil
Andes applies natural beneficial microorganisms into soils alongside crop seeds. These microbes grow with the crop roots and accelerate the natural mineralization of atmospheric CO2. The resulting stable carbonate minerals are then securely and durably stored in the soil for thousands of years. Andes directly measures the accumulation of these carbonate minerals in soils in order to quantify CO2 removal.
Aside from removing CO2, this process provides important co-benefits for crops and farmers, including guaranteed same-season cash payments. This novel carbon removal technology presents itself as both scalable and cost-effective, as it can be integrated easily into existing agronomic practices. The Andes team has already deployed this technology on 50,000 acres of farmland across the US Midwest, with plans to expand to South America and Africa—improving climate and community outcomes with every additional acre.
To ensure verifiability, Andes has developed an ISO methodology in collaboration with EcoEngineers. The methodology has been reviewed by renowned experts in biogeochemistry, soil science, agriculture, and carbon markets and is currently under validation by an accredited auditor.
Project location
Technology and mechanism
Microbial Carbon Mineralization
Using microbes to enhance natural carbon mineralization in agricultural soils, a process which draws down CO₂.
Mechanism
Removal
Durability
Permanence: 10000+ years
The durability of this project is extremely high as a result of the technology used.
For purposes of crediting, carbon dioxide removals are considered to be functionally permanent once shown to be incorporated into soils. The majority of bicarbonate will reach oceans and have durability of 10,000+ years. However, outgassing (evasion) may occur when groundwater reaches surface water and equilibrates with the atmosphere, experiences pH shifts, or interacts with the surface ocean. This scenario of alkalinity runoff leakage is accounted for in the uncertainty discount discussed under the "Risk of Removal" section. Learn more about durability under Section 7 of the Methodology document.
Citation:
Section 7 in Methodology
Project certifications
Patch requires all projects on the marketplace to have its methodology, project design, and outcomes verified by an approved third party. For more on our project vetting and onboarding process, review our Trust and Safety Framework.
Certifier
Not applicable
Project registration date
Not applicable
Crediting period term
May 07, 2022 - May 07, 2027
Project methodology
Microbial Carbon Mineralization Version 1.01
Updated Sep 27, 2023
Verified by Ecoengineers
Project design document (PDD)
PDD: Andes Microbial Carbon Mineralization
Updated Jan 05, 2023
Verified by Earthood Services Private Limited
Current verifier of project outcomes
Earthood Services Private Limited
Project details
Emissions reduced or carbon removed on an annual basis
50,000 tonnes
How the project approaches risk of reversal
The project mitigates reversal risk by contributing to a buffer pool and taking a number of on-the-ground measures.
The methodology utilizes an uncertainty discount based on the CDR verification framework and a conservative assessment of possible reversal scenarios. The project developer ensures soil heterogeneity by following rigorous soil sampling protocols and improves soil carbonate durability and alkilinity runoff leakage using microbes. The microbial inoculant used also promotes plant growth and health, soil quality, and rhizospheric microbiota diversity. The developer also monitors SOC levels and the cation exchange capacity on the project area.
Refer to the PDD, section 1.7 for more information.
What actions would be taken by the project developer if anticipated emissions reductions do not take place, or if carbon removal is reversed in the future?
In the event of a potential reversal, the project's buffer pool acts as a safety measure to cover the potential loss of carbon credits.
An "uncertainty discount" has been incorporated into the methodology. This uncertainty discount relates to the risks, recommended mitigations and associated level of impact on removal calculation detailed in Table 4, Section 10 of the methodology document. Please refer here to see a full list of risk and mitigation methods.
In this methodology’s current version (Version 1.01), the uncertainty discount to be applied to all CDR credits generated is 30%. As more research areas are explored, an accumulation of field data is verified, overall scientific knowledge advances, and previously unknown factors are uncovered, the expectation is that the uncertainty discount will decrease over time.
What calculation methods are used to independently reproduce and verify the carbon impact of the project?
Please refer to Section 11 in the methodology document.
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