Sylvera issues a 'Green' rating for Mitti Labs carbon credits based on rice methane.

Putting rice farming in the climate spotlight

In the world of climate action, credibility is everything. That is especially true in carbon markets, where the gap between claims and impact has eroded trust. So when a new player like Mitti Labs earns a top-tier rating from Sylvera — one of the most respected names in carbon project assessment — it is worth paying attention.

But what makes this even more remarkable is where this credibility was built: in the rice paddies of Southeast India.

Rice farming is rarely part of the climate spotlight, yet it should be. Traditional cultivation methods, particularly continuous flooding, make rice responsible for roughly 12% of global methane emissions — more than the aviation industry. It’s a quiet, underestimated contributor to climate change. And that’s exactly what Mitti Labs set out to change.

Our project introduces a more sustainable method called Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). It sounds simple: periodically letting rice fields drain instead of keeping them permanently flooded. But the results are profound. Methane emissions are reduced by more than half, water use drops by over 40%, and farmers often see better yields and incomes. It’s a win for climate, for livelihoods, and for resilience in one of the world’s most water-stressed regions.

What makes the project stand out, though, is not just what it does — but how it does it.

Mitti Labs combines satellite technology, AI and operations on the ground in a fully integrated system which permanently reduce methane emissions from rice farming. Every field enrolled is monitored with remote sensing and geo-tagged photos. Water levels are tracked with physical tubes. Emissions are measured directly. This isn’t carbon accounting by survey form — it’s a digital, field-level system that captures real-world outcomes in near real-time.

It’s this level of traceability and scientific rigor that caught Sylvera’s attention. Our detailed assessment found low risk across the board on delivery, integrity, and reputation. That means investors and corporate buyers can be confident the emissions reductions are real, the project is on track to deliver, and there are strong safeguards in place for farmers and communities.

What is the Sylvera rating and why should it matter to you?

Sylvera is one of the most widely recognized independent carbon credit ratings agencies, particularly within large corporate sustainability teams and institutional investors. Think of their ratings like a Moody’s or S&P for carbon, but instead of assessing financial creditworthiness, they evaluate the climate integrity of carbon projects.

Each project is scored on three pillars: integrity, delivery, and reputation. These touch on everything from the reliability of carbon accounting to whether the project is likely to follow through on its promises, to how it manages risks for communities and stakeholders.

Mitti Labs’ pre-issuance assessment scored the highest possible result across all three areas. It’s a signal that the project isn’t just compliant with standards but that it goes above and beyond, using real-world data, traceable monitoring, and community-centered design to earn confidence in its outcomes.

“Mitti Labs’ carbon credits are distinguished by their integrity, confirmed by an investable grade from Sylvera’s pre-issuance Rating, a leading carbon rating agency, confirming a low-risk profile and high confidence in the expected emission reductions. Sylvera’s pre-issuance rating found the project to have strong carbon accounting systems and the ability to consistently deliver real, permanent climate benefits, in line with the highest standards for permanence, additionality, and transparency,” said Louis Booth Sylvera's Head of APAC.

For companies looking to invest in carbon credits or build climate portfolios, this rating offers something increasingly rare in the market: assurance.

Supporting your climate goals

In a sector where agriculture-based projects have at times failed to deliver promised benefits to farmers, Mitti Labs is flipping the narrative. We’re partnering with organizations like Dr. Reddy’s Foundation, Syngenta Foundation, and Access Development Services — groups with deep roots in rural India — to ensure training, trust, and transparency are built into the project from day one.

For corporate sustainability teams, this has several implications. First, projects like this can support your climate goals without compromising credibility. Second, they deliver co-benefits that resonate with broader ESG agendas — from water conservation to income generation. And third, they show what’s possible when science, technology, and local knowledge work together.

Our model is grounded, rigorous, and focused. This is what a high-quality carbon project looks like, and it’s happening in the rice fields of India.