New Soil Carbon Framework Has Been Certified
A new industry standard now governs soil carbon removals for millions of hectares of U.S. grazing land.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Organic Food
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Isometric has certified a new Grazing Lands Management Module to address challenges in measuring and verifying carbon removal. The framework currently applies to 2 million hectares managed by organizations like Grassroots Carbon.
Why it matters
This certification aims to standardize how carbon market projects quantify soil health improvements, ensuring greater rigor in climate-related agricultural initiatives. It specifically requires landowners to receive at least 20 percent of project revenue.
The module requires that all soil carbon increases be verified through rigorous physical sampling or biogeochemical models. While the framework has been adopted across 2 million hectares, researchers continue to study the long-term effectiveness of these sequestration methods.
The players
Isometric
A carbon removal certification entity that establishes verification frameworks for environmental impact projects.
Grassroots Carbon
An organization that works with 340 ranching families across 22 states to implement sustainable grazing and soil carbon sequestration.
The details
The module standardizes practices such as rotational grazing, forage improvement, brush control, and water management to boost carbon storage in soil. Developers must account for methane emissions and imported feed to ensure accurate impact reporting. Modelled results must also be checked against physical soil measurements every five years to ensure data accuracy.
Timeline
July 2026: Isometric certified a separate Cropland Management Module.
October 7, 2026: The Grazing Lands Management Module was officially certified.
End of 2026: Cumulative rancher payments are expected to exceed $68 million.
Health Landscape
This development represents a shift toward more stringent, evidence-based verification for soil carbon markets. It builds upon the foundation laid by the Isometric Cropland Management Module, which set earlier standards for soil-based carbon measurement.
While this certification primarily impacts agricultural policy and land management, consumers interested in food sourcing can monitor how these standards affect transparency in the food supply chain. These environmental tracking mechanisms provide a framework for evaluating the sustainability of farming practices.
The takeaway
The new framework provides a rigorous path for measuring carbon removal across U.S. grazing lands. Readers can monitor how such standards influence the availability of sustainably managed products in the marketplace.
Further reading
For more on the implications of agricultural land management, visit Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ESG News.
Live Poll
Do you believe carbon farming programs adequately protect the financial interests of participating landowners?
