The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) has approved the U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol under its Core Carbon Principles (CCP) label — a move expected to enhance confidence in soil-based carbon removal projects and improve consistency in the voluntary carbon market.
The protocol, used by several agricultural carbon programmes including Carbon by Indigo, establishes guidelines for quantifying and verifying soil carbon sequestration, a process by which farmland captures and stores atmospheric carbon dioxide. To date, Indigo Ag has generated nearly one million soil carbon credits using this methodology, with each credit representing one verified tonne of CO₂e removed or reduced.
The ICVCM’s decision marks a key milestone for the credibility of soil-based carbon projects, which have faced scrutiny over measurement standards and transparency. Approval under the Core Carbon Principles confirms that the Soil Enrichment Protocol meets rigorous requirements for scientific robustness, social safeguards, and environmental integrity.
“This approval provides buyers and project developers with clearer visibility into which soil carbon credits meet the highest quality standards,” said Max DuBuisson, Global Head of Impact & Integrity at Indigo Ag. “It represents an important step forward for scaling investment in farmers, soil health, and rural economies.”
According to market data shared by industry participants, demand for CCP-approved carbon credits has risen as companies seek verifiable, high-integrity offsets to complement their decarbonisation efforts. “When quality isn’t in question, buyer confidence increases,” said Brennan Spellacy, CEO and Co-Founder of Patch, a carbon credit marketplace.
Scientific studies have identified soil carbon sequestration as a key natural climate solution, with the potential to mitigate up to four gigatonnes of CO₂e annually through regenerative practices such as cover cropping and reduced tillage. These methods not only store carbon but also improve soil fertility, crop resilience, and water retention — benefits particularly important amid increasing climate pressures on agriculture.
The ICVCM’s endorsement of the Soil Enrichment Protocol is seen as a significant step in advancing science-based, verifiable carbon removal pathways within the agricultural sector. It signals growing institutional alignment on what constitutes credible soil carbon accounting and monitoring, laying the foundation for wider market participation.
