Pretoria, South Africa — South African farmers are set to receive their first verified carbon credits under UPL Corporation’s CarbonSmart initiative, marking a breakthrough in monetizing sustainable agriculture. Developed in partnership with Orizon Agriculture and certified by Verra, the program rewards farmers for adopting regenerative practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, and biosolutions.

A total of 26,102 carbon credits have been approved based on improvements across 2,884 hectares of maize cropland. These credits are tradable on international carbon markets, offering farmers a new revenue stream while contributing to global climate goals.

CarbonSmart is one of only three global projects approved under Verra’s VM0042 methodology and aligns with UPL’s ambition to remove one billion tonnes of CO₂ by 2040. The initiative also includes training modules, soil health assessments, and digital monitoring tools to ensure transparency and scalability.

This development signals a paradigm shift in African agriculture, where sustainability is no longer just a moral imperative but a viable economic opportunity.