Microbial Carbon Mineralization Methodologies

In July 2023, the carbon removal firm Andes publicly introduced a first-of-its-kind methodology for quantifying carbon sequestration through Microbial Carbon Mineralization (MCM) in agricultural soils. This framework has been developed to comply with the ISO 14064 standard and represents a significant advancement in establishing rigorous and consistent procedures for measuring, reporting, and verifying the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere and durably stored.

Andes' Microbial Carbon Mineralization methodology is the product of extensive collaboration involving academic researchers, USDA scientists, agricultural communities, and carbon market specialists. It was technically crafted with the assistance of the consulting firm EcoEngineers. Its development incorporated a direct soil sampling protocol adapted from the existing Verra VM0042 standard and integrated input from a wide array of scientific experts.

Gonzalo Fuenzalida, CEO and co-founder of Andes, shared: “Within the context of open terrestrial systems, we believe our methodology is paving the way for CDR companies to sustainably scale up activities, while promoting maximum visibility and transparency in methods.”

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