Following several advance payments received earlier, the first Latvian farmers in the eAgronom carbon programme have now received their full income for introducing sustainable practices on their farms. This is an important step both for eAgronom clients and for the industry as a whole, as it proves that carbon farming not only helps to meet environmental targets, but also delivers a real financial benefit.
In January 2026, eAgronom reached a significant milestone by issuing the first 29 thousand certified carbon credits under the Verra Verified Carbon Standard – one of the world's leading voluntary carbon market standards. The credits were generated during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 agricultural seasons in the Baltic states, including Latvia, as well as in Poland. This achievement clearly shows that introducing practices such as cover cropping and reduced tillage makes it possible not only to improve soil health, but also to monetise the positive impact of these practices as stable additional income.
As the volume of credits grows, this initiative will create ever greater added value in the future, thereby strengthening farms' resilience to extreme weather, economic fluctuations and changing policy requirements.
These payments are provided through the voluntary carbon market, where responsible companies purchase certified soil carbon credits in order to offset their environmental impact. Working with South Pole, one of the leading carbon project developers and climate consultancies, eAgronom developed a carbon project in line with Verra verification standards. Following successful certification and the first issuance of credits, South Pole is now attracting buyers and selling these credits on the global market. This mechanism ensures that capital flows directly into rural regions and rewards farmers for capturing and storing carbon in the soil over the long term.
“CO₂ can be seen as a by-product that farmers are able to turn into value, namely fertile soil. This creates additional income opportunities for farmers, while giving companies greater flexibility in reducing emissions. Avoiding waste entirely, just like CO₂ emissions, is not realistic, but it can be managed wisely and responsibly. I am genuinely proud of the farmers – the pioneers who are promoting carbon storage in the soil and strengthening our food security,” says eAgronom chief executive and founder Robin Saluoks.
The head of eAgronom Latvia, Diāna Līva, stresses that this is a significant signal for the entire agricultural sector: “This achievement reflects the trust and commitment of our farmers, particularly given the understandable questions and discussions about carbon farming in recent years. It clearly shows that the model works in practice – farmers who started earlier are now receiving a real financial return for their efforts. It is a powerful signal that sustainable practices can deliver both environmental benefits and stable additional income for farms.”