TerraCRED: Stubble-to-Carbon

TerraCRED: Grow green, Earn clean

TerraCRED: Stubble-to-Carbon

A climate-smart solution that empowers farmers to prevent stubble burning using early maturity seeds and carbon credit monetization.

New Delhi

IND

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Air pollution is a major health concern in many Indian cities exposing millions of people to extremely toxic air. Pandey et al. (2021) estimate that 17% of total deaths in India in 2019 were attributable to air pollution. Stubble (crop residue) burning contributes up to 30-35% of air pollution in North India during October-November. Though a relatively inexpensive process to get rid of crop residue and pests, stubble burning has damaging impacts on soil fertility and agricultural productivity. Intensive dual cropping system (where rice is harvested early to accommodate the wheat crop) is a major reason for farmers to adopt burning as a measure of crop residue management (CRM). Narrow time frame (2-3 weeks) to prepare the field for wheat cultivation makes it harder for farmers to sustainably manage crop residue and burning remains the popular way to deal with it.Additionally, farmers currently have no direct financial incentive to adopt sustainable practices, as there is no mechanism to monetize the pollution they prevent. Despite the growing demand for carbon credits from businesses and corporations aiming to meet sustainability goals, smallholder farmers are unable to access this market effectively.

TerraCred empowers farmers to prevent stubble burning by providing them with early maturity seeds and the knowledge to manage crop residue sustainably. These seeds mature faster without affecting yield, giving farmers enough time to clear fields without burning, while also reducing input costs like water, labor, and fertilizers. We supplement this with hands-on training to manage crop residue, ensuring effective adoption of sustainable practices. What makes TerraCred unique is our integrated carbon credit system. When farmers avoid burning, they prevent pollution. We help quantify these emission savings, convert them into verified carbon credits, and buy them from the farmers. These credits are then sold to businesses and governments looking to meet their climate goals—turning pollution prevention into income for farmers. Our initial randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 1,000 farmers in 2024 showed promising results: a $3/acre seed subsidy reduced burning by 19 percentage points; combining subsidies with training reduced it by 26 points. This project alone cut over 3,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, with $44 in carbon savings per acre. It’s a win for the environment, a win for farmers, and a win for sustainable development.

Our solution directly serves smallholder farmers in North India—particularly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh—who often burn crop residue due to tight planting schedules and lack of viable alternatives. Managing less than 5 acres, these farmers are underserved both technologically (no access to early maturity seeds) and economically (no ability to monetize sustainable practices). We address both gaps by providing subsidized early-maturity seeds and technical training, enabling farmers to harvest earlier, manage residue without burning, lower input costs, and improve soil health. We also help farmers generate income from climate action by quantifying avoided emissions, converting them into verified carbon credits, and connecting farmers to businesses seeking offsets—creating a new, recurring revenue stream. Beyond farmers, our venture serves businesses aiming to meet carbon reduction goals, and supports governments striving to fulfill international climate commitments. It also protects millions of people living downstream from burning fields who currently inhale toxic air each winter. By turning climate responsibility into economic opportunity, we offer farmers dignity, businesses a credible path to sustainability, governments a scalable solution, and the broader public cleaner, healthier air.