Google Purchases 1 Million Rice-Methane Carbon Credits from Mitti Labs by 2030

Google's Carbon Credit Acquisition

Google has committed to purchasing 1 million carbon credits from the Indian climate-tech startup Mitti Labs. This agreement extends through 2030 and represents the largest publicly announced deal for credits derived from reducing methane emissions in rice cultivation. The financial terms of the four-year agreement were not disclosed.

Project Scope and Methane Reduction

The project will span approximately 100,000 hectares across the Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana at its peak. Farmers will receive payments for adopting practices that decrease the duration rice fields remain flooded. This method is expected to cut methane emissions by about 50% and irrigation water use by approximately 40% without affecting crop yields.

Addressing Google's Emissions and Goals

This deal supports Google's objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030. Google's greenhouse gas emissions increased by 18% year-over-year in 2025, reaching about 14.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, as reported in its June environmental report. The company sought methane-reduction projects to diversify its carbon-credit portfolio.

Mitti Labs' Technology and Expansion

Mitti Labs, founded in 2023, utilizes a GeoAI platform that integrates satellite radar imagery with field measurements. This technology remotely tracks crop growth, soil moisture, and flooding on smallholder farms. The platform uses synthetic aperture radar imagery from commercial and public satellites, with resolutions ranging from 50 centimeters to 10 meters, alongside proprietary field data. The Google deal is expected to enable Mitti Labs to scale its operations and engage with other large corporate buyers.