Partnerships and AI: How Mitti Labs is Tackling Rice Farming’s Methane Challenge
Addressing climate change is a daunting mission, especially for startups in the carbon removal sector. One company leading the way is Mitti Labs, a New York–based startup that uses artificial intelligence to measure methane emissions from rice paddies while working directly with farmers to encourage sustainable practices.
Unlike many tech ventures that seek quick returns, Mitti’s approach is hands-on, community-driven, and reliant on long-term collaboration. The strategy is paying off — thanks to strategic partnerships and innovative use of AI.
Building Climate Solutions Through Partnerships
Mitti Labs recently entered into a partnership with The Nature Conservancy, focusing on promoting regenerative and no-burn farming techniques in India. According to the company, this collaboration is part of a broader effort to expand its reach through alliances.
Mitti’s AI-powered platform will help measure, report, and verify climate-focused initiatives carried out by local workers in rural Indian villages. These teams are helping farmers shift toward practices that both reduce methane emissions and support soil health.
“Most of the project operations on the ground are from locals from the villages where these projects are being implemented,” explained Xavier Laguarta, co-founder of Mitti Labs, in an interview with TechCrunch.
Expanding Beyond Methane Reduction
While Mitti’s core work centers on reducing methane from rice cultivation, the company is also developing new software offerings. Laguarta noted that their technology can be adapted to measure Scope 3 emissions, which are indirect emissions from supply chains and other activities not directly controlled by organizations.
“We can measure Scope 3 emissions from other project developers or corporations that are working with rice farmers,” he said. “Anyone who’s already running projects on the ground, that’s sort of like a SaaS solution that we can offer them.”
This software-as-a-service model mirrors moves by other climate-tech startups such as Mati Carbon, winner of the Xprize Carbon Removal grand prize, which provides monitoring software for enhanced rock weathering projects.
Incentivizing Farmers with Carbon Credits
Mitti Labs links its methane-reduction programs to carbon credit generation. Using its platform, the company tracks credits and facilitates sales, sharing revenue with farmers and their communities.
“Usually, farmers will see about a 15% improvement in their bottom line by joining our programs,” Laguarta explained. For smallholder farmers in India, who often face slim profit margins, this added income is highly significant.
Why Rice Farming Matters in the Climate Equation
Rice cultivation is a major source of human-caused methane emissions, accounting for 10% to 12% of the global total. Methane is an especially potent greenhouse gas, trapping heat at a rate 82 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
Unlike other crops, rice is typically grown in flooded fields, which create oxygen-free conditions that encourage methane-producing microbes. This makes rice farming a critical area for climate mitigation.
AI and Satellite Data: Scaling Climate Impact
To address the challenge at scale, Mitti relies heavily on satellite imagery and radar technology, which can detect conditions above and below ground. These insights are then integrated into AI models trained on field research and remote sensing data, allowing the company to monitor vast areas without the high costs of on-site equipment.
This approach is particularly important in India, where the average farm size is just one hectare (about 2.5 acres). Large-scale monitoring through physical devices would be economically unfeasible, but satellite-powered AI makes verification accessible and cost-efficient.
Looking Ahead: Asia’s Smallholder Farmers
With 90% of global rice production taking place in Asia, the scalability of Mitti’s model is vital. Beyond India, the company sees its partnerships as a gateway to reaching millions of smallholder farmers across the region.
“Ninety percent of rice is grown in Asia, and outside of potentially China, the majority of rice growing regions have these similar smallholder farmer dynamics,” Laguarta emphasized. “A deep partnership that we have with the Nature Conservancy allows us to develop these tools that can then be used for a lot of other programs in the region.”
Conclusion
Mitti Labs’ blend of AI-driven data analysis, community-level engagement, and global partnerships represents a model for how startups can make real progress in climate action. By aligning technology with farmer incentives and nonprofit collaborations, the company is helping rice growers reduce methane emissions while improving their livelihoods.
As the climate-tech space continues to evolve, Mitti’s partnership-first approach highlights a crucial lesson: innovation alone isn’t enough — scaling impact requires collaboration.
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