New data tool measures and tracks carbon impact at the field level

Blockchain-powered data and supply chain solution Merge Impact and soil health measurement and mapping company Earth Optics are offering tools to measure and confirm carbon impact at the field level.

"The rapid overuse of our soil resources demands we transform how we produce food while supporting the livelihoods of the regenerative and organic farmers who we rely on more than ever," Ben Adolph, Merge Impact founder and CEO, said in a news release. "Merge Impact’s partnership with Earth Optics will enable a scalable solution to measuring baselines for supply chains, while Merge Impact’s blockchain-verified data services provide the integrity and opportunity to incentivize more positive change at the field level. Together, we are bringing value back to the producers.”

The companies say the partnership will allow them to offer “full visibility into the connections between soil outcomes, climate goals and producer.”

"There has never been a more crucial time to make changes in how we produce our food, and the vast scale of the food system is key to making a positive change for our future livelihood and the planet," Beth Robertson-Martin, Merge Impact’s co-founder and vice president of partnership development, said in the release. "The partnership between Merge Impact and Earth Optics provides farmers a roadmap to demonstrate comprehensive and accurate soil measurements that are traceable, verifiable, and credible to brands and consumers."

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According to a recent Agri-Pulse poll, approximately 28% of farmers are actively implementing practices that reduce their operation's carbon footprint, and 17% are evaluating their options. Soil health ranks as a concern for 94% of the growers, of which 20% indicate they are extremely concerned with the issue.

Earth Optics' technology delivers high-resolution maps with accurate total field carbon measurements that detect year-over-year changes that demonstrate the carbon sequestered in the soil during a crop season, according to the release. With Merge Impact, Earth Optics data is securitized on the blockchain, ensuring farmers can increase the return on their investment to improve their soil.

"Earth Optics technology suite offers farmers more soil data insights than ever before," EarthOptics CEO Lars Dyrud said in the release. "Our technology quantifies the amount of carbon sequestered — not just an estimation, but total field analysis. It benefits the entire food value chain from new revenue streams for farmers to peace of mind for consumers about the sustainability of their food choices."

Ultimately, the Merge Impact and EarthOptics partnership makes it possible for brands to reliably demonstrate to consumers their timely, meaningful progress toward their climate commitments, the companies said.

For brands, these technologies and tools allows users to: 

• Measure— The environmental impact of food and crop production, including factors such as water, carbon and biodiversity.

• Verify — Blockchain technology to confirm the food supply chain.

• Connect — Merge Impact connects brands and farmers.

• Create — A transparent food economy that ensures all stakeholders benefit from verified regenerative practices.