Eion, a firm developing enhanced rock weathering (ERW) as a climate mitigation method, has announced a carbon insetting agreement with Perdue AgriBusiness, a subsidiary of Perdue Farms. The collaboration will see Perdue’s grain farmers apply olivine—a naturally occurring mineral—across farmland in the US Mid-Atlantic region, with an estimated 3,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide expected to be removed.
The deal marks the first known use of enhanced rock weathering within a company’s own supply chain for carbon removal. ERW accelerates the natural process by which certain minerals, such as olivine, react with atmospheric carbon dioxide, forming stable carbonates in soil. This process, which ordinarily spans thousands of years, can be compressed into a matter of years when facilitated under controlled conditions.
Olivine, approved for agricultural use for decades, serves as a soil amendment while simultaneously absorbing CO₂. It also contains trace elements that allow for measurable carbon capture—key to verifying removal levels. According to Eion, the mineral offers a lower-cost alternative to agricultural lime, traditionally used to regulate soil pH.
The agreement with Perdue reflects a growing trend in the voluntary carbon market, where companies are shifting from carbon offsetting—investing in emissions reductions outside their operations—to carbon insetting, which integrates emissions removal directly into their supply chains. Insetting strategies are increasingly viewed as a more credible and measurable approach to corporate climate action.
With around 800 million acres of farmland in the United States, proponents suggest agriculture could play a significant role in scaling ERW to achieve gigaton-level carbon removal annually.
Perdue AgriBusiness, which launched its Sustainability Program in 2021, has been exploring practices that improve soil health and support environmental resilience in the Chesapeake Bay area. The company is now incorporating ERW into its regenerative agriculture efforts.
Perry Aulie, President of Perdue AgriBusiness, said the partnership supports both environmental goals and farming communities. “Partnering with Eion allows us to integrate carbon removal directly into our supply chain—enhancing soil health, supporting our growers, and advancing our commitment to a more sustainable future,” he stated.
The collaboration with Eion is expected to strengthen Perdue’s sustainability credentials and may appeal to downstream buyers of its soybean oil and poultry products who prioritise climate-conscious sourcing.
