About
Soil Capital is a regenerative agriculture platform and carbon farming programme built by agronomists with over a decade of field expertise. It operates as a certified bridge between farmers adopting regenerative practices and food companies seeking measurable supply chain sustainability. The platform runs across France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, and has distributed more than €13.5 million in rewards to participating farmers. For farmers, Soil Capital provides yearly environmental assessments, expert agronomic support, and financial payments tied to verified improvements in carbon sequestration, biodiversity, soil health, and water retention. Progress is measured using a standardised metric: 1 Soil Capital Unit equals 1 tonne of CO2e reduced or removed. For food and agriculture companies, the platform offers insetting solutions that allow direct investment into agricultural supply chains, enabling businesses to reduce Scope 3 emissions and meet targets under frameworks like the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Use cases with major brands like Royal Canin and Nestlé highlight the programme's enterprise credibility and scale. Additional tools include a farm earnings simulator for prospective participants, detailed use case studies, and a content library of news, podcasts, webinars, and publications to educate farmers, agronomists, and corporate sustainability teams. Soil Capital is best suited for food companies with complex agricultural supply chains and farmers looking to monetise their positive environmental impact beyond crop revenue.
Key Features
- Carbon Measurement & Certification: Annual farm assessments quantify environmental indicators and certify carbon outcomes using a standardised unit: 1 Soil Capital Unit = 1 tonne CO2e reduced or removed.
- Farmer Rewards Programme: Farmers receive direct financial payments based on verified improvements in regenerative practices, including soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
- Supply Chain Insetting for Companies: Food and agriculture companies can invest directly in their supply chains through Soil Capital to reduce Scope 3 emissions and meet SBTi-aligned climate targets.
- Expert Agronomic Support: A team of agronomists provides hands-on guidance to help farmers transition to and optimise regenerative practices over time.
- Farm Earnings Simulator: Prospective farmer participants can simulate their potential earnings from the programme before committing, enabling informed decision-making.
Use Cases
- A grain farmer in France adopts no-till and cover cropping practices, undergoes annual soil assessment, and earns carbon reward payments for verified improvements in soil carbon and biodiversity.
- A global pet food company like Royal Canin reduces its Scope 3 emissions by funding regenerative agriculture insetting through Soil Capital's certified farmer network in its sourcing regions.
- A multinational food brand like Nestlé signs a multi-year partnership with Soil Capital to scale regenerative agriculture across its supply base in France, Belgium, and the UK.
- An agricultural cooperative partners with Soil Capital to help its member farms transition to regenerative practices, access agronomic expertise, and qualify for carbon payment programmes.
- A corporate sustainability team uses Soil Capital's certified outcomes data to report verified Scope 3 reductions in annual climate disclosures aligned with SBTi and other international frameworks.
Pros
- Verified & Certified Impact: Rigorous annual assessments and certification methodology aligned with international standards like SBTi ensure credible, auditable outcomes for both farmers and corporate partners.
- Dual-Sided Value Creation: The programme simultaneously rewards farmers financially and helps companies achieve supply chain resilience and climate targets, creating a sustainable incentive loop.
- Proven at Scale: With over 1,800 farmers, 500,000+ hectares covered, and €13.5M+ paid out, Soil Capital has demonstrated real-world effectiveness and enterprise-grade partnerships.
Cons
- Limited Geographic Coverage: The programme is currently only available in France, Belgium, and the UK, restricting access for farmers and companies operating in other regions.
- Ongoing Compliance Requirements: Participation requires yearly environmental assessments and continuous adherence to programme standards, which may be burdensome for smaller or less resourced farming operations.
- Company Engagement Required: The insetting model works best when food companies actively engage with the programme; without corporate partners, the financial reward pipeline for farmers may be limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Soil Capital work for farmers?
Farmers join the programme and receive annual assessments of their farm's environmental indicators. Based on verified improvements in regenerative practices — such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and soil health — they earn Soil Capital Units (1 unit = 1 tonne CO2e) and receive financial payments accordingly. Agronomic support is provided throughout.
What is a Soil Capital Unit?
A Soil Capital Unit is the programme's standardised measurement metric. One Soil Capital Unit equals one tonne of CO2e that has been reduced or removed through regenerative farming practices, as certified by Soil Capital's annual assessment process.
How do food companies benefit from partnering with Soil Capital?
Companies can reduce their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by investing in regenerative agriculture within their supply chains (insetting). This strengthens supply chain resilience, supports farmer livelihoods, and delivers verified climate outcomes aligned with frameworks like the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Which countries does Soil Capital currently operate in?
Soil Capital currently operates in France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. France has the largest footprint with over 1,400 participating farmers covering more than 366,000 hectares.
Can a farmer simulate their potential earnings before joining?
Yes. Soil Capital provides an online earnings simulator that allows prospective farmer participants to estimate the financial rewards they could receive based on their farm's size, location, and current practices, before formally enrolling in the programme.
