Soja: ROSARIO
$310.000 -1.59%
Maíz: ROSARIO
$233.000 0.87%
Trigo: ROSARIO
$243.000 1.25%
Por Agroempresario.com
Eion, a startup based in Berkeley, California, is making waves in the field of carbon removal with its patented approach to enhanced rock weathering (ERW). The company has partnered with Perdue AgriBusiness to execute a groundbreaking carbon insetting deal, a first of its kind in the agricultural industry. This collaboration aims to remove CO2 directly from the atmosphere through a process that integrates seamlessly into Perdue's agricultural supply chain. The long-term goal is to pave the way for large-scale, permanent carbon removal in farming, creating a sustainable future for both agriculture and the environment.
The rise of carbon markets has led to significant reductions in emissions worldwide, with companies investing in carbon reduction projects outside their supply chains through what is known as carbon offsetting. In contrast, carbon insetting focuses on integrating sustainability efforts within a company’s existing supply chain, directly addressing emissions generated by their own operations. The deal with Perdue represents a shift in how companies can engage in carbon management, moving beyond traditional offsetting into proactive, in-supply-chain emissions reductions.
Under this new agreement, Perdue grain farmers will initially aim to remove 3,500 tons of CO2 by applying olivine, a mineral optimized by Eion for its capacity to accelerate the process of rock weathering. Eion CEO Anastasia Pavlovic highlighted the potential of enhanced rock weathering (ERW) to become a fundamental tool in reducing agricultural carbon emissions. “We see a massive opportunity for ERW to easily incorporate within the agricultural supply chain for the long haul,” Pavlovic said. “With approximately 800 million acres of farmland in the United States alone, agricultural insetting projects could catalyze the ERW sector toward annual gigaton CO2 removal.”
At the heart of Eion’s innovation is olivine, a naturally occurring mineral that, when crushed and applied to soil, has the unique ability to absorb CO2. Olivine is mined in Norway by Sibelco, Eion’s partner and investor, and used as a direct replacement for agricultural lime (ag lime), which is traditionally applied to soil to reduce acidity. The process of enhanced rock weathering works by accelerating the natural breakdown of minerals like olivine, which absorbs carbon dioxide as it dissolves in rainwater and acidic soil. Over time, this carbon is locked away in rivers and ultimately reaches the ocean, where it can be permanently sequestered.
The application of olivine on farmlands across the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States is expected to help mitigate soil acidity while removing significant amounts of CO2. For farmers, this offers an environmentally friendly and financially attractive solution to a common agricultural practice. Unlike ag lime, which is applied every couple of years, olivine's benefits are longer-lasting and contribute directly to carbon removal. Application rates typically range from one ton per acre, depending on soil conditions.
Eion's approach is uniquely data-driven. The company uses a process called "soil fingerprinting" to measure the amount of CO2 removed through the weathering of olivine. This involves analyzing trace elements like magnesium, chromium, and nickel in soil samples taken before and after olivine application. These elements act as biomarkers for the mineral weathering process, providing a reliable measure of how much CO2 is absorbed by the soil. By tracking these changes over time, Eion can quantify carbon removal and ensure that it meets the rigorous standards for carbon offset verification.
In practice, the soil samples are collected both before olivine application and periodically after it has been applied. By comparing the pre- and post-application results, Eion is able to track how much of the olivine dissolves and how much CO2 has been captured. Typically, between 40-70% of the olivine dissolves within six to nine months, and after one to four years, the process is completed, allowing for the reapplication of olivine. This ability to quantify carbon removal allows Eion to create verified carbon credits that can be sold to companies looking to offset their emissions.
Eion’s business model is built on selling carbon credits to companies seeking to meet their carbon offset goals. Typically, carbon credits are priced between $300 and $400 per ton of CO2 removed, providing a significant revenue stream for the company. However, the deal with Perdue marks a shift away from the traditional model of carbon offsetting. Under this agreement, Eion and Perdue are not issuing carbon credits. Instead, this is an insetting model, where Perdue directly supports farmers in implementing carbon removal practices, paying them to apply olivine and share their data.
For Perdue, this offers a way to reduce the carbon footprint of its agricultural supply chain while supporting farmers with reduced costs for soil treatment. Scott Raubenstine, Vice President of Agricultural Services at Perdue AgriBusiness, noted that the partnership allows the company to lower its carbon footprint in a tangible way: “We are the first-ever insetting use of enhanced rock weathering within our value chain, and we’re excited about that,” he said.
The partnership between Eion and Perdue is still in its early stages, but it already shows great potential for scaling. In its first year, Perdue will trial the use of olivine on more than 2,000 acres of farmland in the Mid-Atlantic. By 2030, the goal is to expand the program to cover up to 5 million acres. Eion’s ability to leverage Perdue’s existing network of farmers, soil samplers, and commercial labs will facilitate the expansion of this program, making it easier to monitor and measure the results.
The partnership also represents a new avenue for Eion to explore as it develops new insetting agreements with other agricultural companies. By working directly within supply chains, Eion can create more customized and impactful carbon removal solutions that have the potential to scale up rapidly.
For Eion, the deal with Perdue is just the beginning of a larger vision to integrate carbon removal practices into agriculture on a global scale. With agricultural practices responsible for a significant portion of global emissions, scaling up enhanced rock weathering on farms represents a key strategy for mitigating climate change. By shifting to insetting, Eion is positioning itself as a leader in carbon removal technologies, offering a solution that benefits both the environment and the agricultural industry.
As the project expands, it could become a model for other agricultural companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Eion’s unique approach of integrating carbon removal into supply chains through enhanced rock weathering not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also enhances soil health, making it a win-win for farmers and the planet.
