Microsoft, thanks to the blockchain technology, bought soil carbon credits. CarbonPlus Grassland credits, from the Regen Cosmos blockchain, were initially issued to ranches in the New South Wales.
As a measure of soil sequestration, atmospheric carbon and storing it in the soil, which is the process of capturing, is what Carbon credits are used for. Achieved by the use of Regen network remote sensing tech and is said to help in checking animal and soil health, or overall ecosystem health.
43,338 metric tonnes of carbon credits were awarded to Wilmot Cattle Co as part of an initiative launched by Natural capital Impact AG before the Microsoft acquisition. Wilmot ranchers have reported increase in the soil carbon concentration to approximately 4.5%. The ideal concentration of carbon in soil is thought to be between 4% and 6%.
Microsoft announced in 2020 that it will aim to reduce its footprint to zero not later than 2030. What’s more, Microsoft also aims to eliminate an equal amount of carbon it has produced since it began operations in 1975.
Regen CEO Christian Shearer highlighted the initiative, adding that it offers hope for the natural approaches to fight against climate change.
Our work with Wilmot Cattle Co and Impact Ag gives us much more hope that agricultural and natural measures to fight climate change are not only effective, but they do have the potential to quickly improve the sustainability of our food.