About
Lithos Carbon is an enhanced rock weathering (ERW) company that transforms agricultural land into high-performance carbon capture sites. By applying crushed basalt rock dust to farmland, Lithos harnesses a natural geochemical process — silicate mineral weathering — to permanently remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. With roughly 3 tons of basalt application capable of capturing up to 1 ton of CO₂, the platform offers a scalable, durable carbon removal pathway. At the core of Lithos's offering is a proprietary machine learning engine that analyzes site-specific soil samples to determine optimal basalt application strategies. This ensures each farm is calibrated for both maximum carbon dioxide capture and peak crop yield, replacing costly limestone inputs with nutrient-rich basalt that supplies iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. Lithos handles all logistics — feedstock sourcing, delivery, soil sampling, and field application — at no cost to the farmer, who instead earns passive income from verified carbon removal credits. Their rigorous Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) methodology, developed in partnership with Yale University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, traces sequestered carbon from field application through river systems to the ocean, providing the highest-accuracy carbon accounting in the ERW industry. Lithos is ideal for row-crop farmers, agribusinesses, and sustainability-focused enterprises seeking science-backed, registry-certified carbon removal at scale.
Key Features
- Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW): Applies crushed basalt rock dust to farmland to trigger natural silicate weathering, permanently sequestering up to 1 ton of CO₂ per 3 tons of basalt applied.
- ML-Optimized Application Plans: Proprietary machine learning algorithms analyze site-specific soil samples to design customized basalt application strategies that maximize both carbon capture and crop yield for each unique farm.
- Farm-to-Ocean Carbon Tracking (MRV): Industry-leading Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification pipeline — developed with Yale and Georgia Tech — traces sequestered carbon from field application through watersheds to the ocean.
- Soil Health & Crop Yield Improvement: Basalt supplies essential nutrients (iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium) and silicon to improve soil pH, regenerate topsoil, increase drought resistance, and boost pest protection.
- Full-Service Logistics: Lithos covers all costs of feedstock sourcing, delivery, soil sampling, and field application, allowing farmers to participate with zero upfront investment.
Use Cases
- Row-crop farmers looking to earn passive income from carbon credits without changing their existing farming practices.
- Agribusinesses and large-scale agricultural operators seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and meet sustainability reporting requirements.
- Corporate sustainability teams purchasing high-integrity, science-backed carbon removal credits to meet net-zero commitments.
- Climate tech investors and policymakers evaluating scalable, permanent carbon dioxide removal solutions for climate portfolios.
- Research institutions and environmental organizations studying real-world enhanced rock weathering efficacy and soil carbon dynamics.
Pros
- Zero cost to farmers: Lithos handles and funds all logistics — farmers earn passive revenue from carbon credits without any out-of-pocket expense.
- Dual benefit: carbon + yield: The ML-optimized approach simultaneously improves crop productivity and soil health while sequestering carbon, creating aligned economic and environmental incentives.
- Rigorous, science-backed MRV: Carbon accounting methodology co-developed with Yale and Georgia Tech delivers registry-certified, highest-accuracy carbon removal verification in the ERW industry.
- Permanent carbon removal: Unlike nature-based offsets, ERW sequesters carbon in stable mineral and ocean alkalinity forms, offering durable removal on geological timescales.
Cons
- Geographically limited availability: Access to basalt feedstock, logistics networks, and partner mine proximity may restrict which farms can participate in the program.
- Long measurement timelines: Full farm-to-ocean carbon tracing is a multi-stage process that takes time, meaning carbon credits may not be issued immediately after application.
- Not a traditional software tool: Lithos is a physical carbon removal service with an ML backend — farmers cannot independently access or configure the platform's models or analytics dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is enhanced rock weathering (ERW)?
Enhanced rock weathering is a natural geochemical process where silicate minerals in crushed basalt rock react with CO₂ in soil and water, permanently converting it into stable bicarbonate that eventually reaches the ocean. Lithos accelerates this process by spreading basalt dust on farmland.
How much does it cost farmers to participate?
Nothing. Lithos covers 100% of the costs for feedstock sourcing, delivery, soil sampling, and application. Farmers earn passive revenue from the sale of verified carbon removal credits generated by their land.
How does Lithos measure the carbon captured?
Lithos uses an empirical MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) pipeline co-developed with Yale University and Georgia Tech. It traces captured carbon from the point of basalt application on the farm, through river and stream erosion pathways, to final ocean storage — providing registry-certified carbon removal tonnes.
Will applying basalt hurt my crops?
No — basalt is organic-grade and rich in plant nutrients like iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. It helps regulate soil pH, replaces limestone inputs, and silicon from basalt can increase drought and pest resistance, typically resulting in improved crop yields.
How does the machine learning optimization work?
Lithos collects site-specific soil samples from each partner farm and runs them through proprietary ML models that account for soil composition, crop type, pH levels, and local conditions. The output is a tailored basalt application plan that optimizes for both maximum CO₂ capture and the highest possible crop yield for that specific field.
