Google Buys 1M Carbon Credits from Indian Startup Mitti Labs

Google has signed its largest carbon credit deal to date with Indian climate-tech startup Mitti Labs. The four-year agreement will cover rice farms across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, reaching about 100,000 hectares at peak delivery.

The project pays farmers to adopt practices that reduce how long rice fields remain flooded, cutting methane released during cultivation while also reducing water use. Mitti Labs claims its technique can cut methane emissions by around 50% and irrigation water use by about 40% without reducing crop yields.

Google's evaluation included scrutiny of Mitti Labs' monitoring technology and visits to farms before the companies signed the agreement. The deal is part of Google's efforts to reach its goal of going net-zero emissions by 2030 amid investing heavily in artificial-intelligence infrastructure.