Veterans Carbon Holdings (VCH) has confirmed the issuance of what it describes as the first third-party validated soil-sample carbon credits in the United States, marking a shift in how agricultural carbon is measured and certified.
Unlike conventional schemes that rely on satellite imagery or practice-based modelling, the credits are based on direct stratified soil sampling and independent validation under BCarbon’s Soil Carbon Protocol v2.0. Serialization is under way, enabling traceability from issuance to sale via DOVU’s blockchain infrastructure on Hedera.
According to VCH, independent validation shows that direct measurement at soil depth identifies higher levels of stored carbon in agricultural subsoils than are typically captured by estimation models. The credits originate from farmland in the Red River Valley and reflect verified subsoil carbon gains.
The company plans to expand the programme across 1.5 to 2 million acres in North Dakota and western Minnesota in 2026.
VCH said it expects to distribute around $1.1 billion in direct payments to US farmers and landowners over the next nine years, with 55% of revenue returning to participating growers.
“Over the next nine years, we project approximately $1.1 billion returning directly to American farmers and landowners,” said Katie Lorenz, President of Veterans Carbon Holdings. “If the carbon comes from the soil, the majority of the value belongs to the farmer. This represents a meaningful shift of capital back into rural America, where it belongs.”
Stephen Gorton, Scientist and Owner of VCH, added: “This is proven, measured carbon. For years, carbon markets have relied heavily on modelling. We are replacing estimation with field-based verification and scientific rigor. Farmers should be paid for what they actually deliver.”
The credits are being positioned through DOVU’s Article 6-aligned infrastructure, targeting international buyers seeking higher integrity and traceability standards. VCH said each credit will carry transparent verification from validation through to sale.
Stuart Eeg, a grower in Greenbush, Minnesota and the first US farmer to receive issued soil-sample carbon credits under the programme, said: “This programme returns real income to farmers. It rewards stewardship with measurable proof, not assumptions. That changes everything.”
