CarbonCrop

CarbonCrop is a financial technology firm operating at the intersection of climate tech and agritech, specializing in carbon sequestration for landowners and businesses. Founded in 2020 by Nick Butcher, the company originated as a spin-off from the Nelson Artificial Intelligence Institute in New Zealand. The initial concept emerged from recognizing that while landholders were aware of carbon credit programs like the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), significant barriers such as cost and complexity prevented their participation.

The company's core business revolves around simplifying access to carbon markets. It serves two primary client types: landowners, such as farmers with native or exotic forests, and businesses seeking to manage their carbon footprint through high-integrity offsets. For landowners, CarbonCrop offers a free initial land assessment to determine eligibility for carbon credits, operating on a success-fee model where the company is compensated only when the landowner earns revenue. This model significantly lowers the entry barrier for participation in programs like the NZ ETS and the voluntary carbon market. For businesses, the platform provides tools to measure, track, and monetize carbon removals within their supply chains, helping them create low-carbon products and maintain market access.

CarbonCrop's key service is a technology platform that utilizes artificial intelligence, machine learning, and remote sensing to analyze satellite and aerial imagery. This technology precisely maps and measures forest areas, identifies tree species, and calculates carbon sequestration rates with high accuracy, often without requiring an on-site visit. A feature of the platform is CarbonTracer, which offers transparency by allowing offset buyers to trace their credits back to the specific forest of origin via a unique code and satellite imagery. The company also created its own voluntary market credits, Native CarbonCrop Units (CCUs), specifically for New Zealand's biodiverse regenerating native forests that may be excluded from the official ETS.

The company has achieved significant milestones, including mapping over 4 million hectares in New Zealand and, as of October 2023, distributing over NZ$25 million in carbon incentives to more than 300 landholders. CarbonCrop has secured funding through multiple rounds from investors such as WNT Ventures, Icehouse Ventures, K1W1, and Agnition, supporting its expansion within New Zealand and internationally. The firm is led by CEO Jo Blundell, who joined the company after seeing its potential from her own experience as a landowner interested in reforestation.

Keywords: carbon farming, carbon credits, emissions trading scheme, forest carbon, AI land analysis, remote sensing, carbon sequestration, climate tech, agritech, nature-based solutions, carbon removals, New Zealand ETS, landholder services, supply chain decarbonization, forest monitoring, Native CarbonCrop Units, carbon market access, voluntary carbon market, sustainable agriculture, reforestation incentives, carbon offsetting, biodiversity restoration, Nick Butcher, Jo Blundell