Mission
Reduce methane emissions from rice farming through innovative, farmer-centered, climate-smart solutions that improve livelihoods while protecting the planet.
Climate-smart agriculture in Africa
Reducing methane. Empowering farmers. Transforming rice systems in Africa.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, rice feeds millions, but flooded paddies create hidden methane emissions. CarboDeep turns that challenge into a practical opportunity, starting in Kenya and building toward continent-wide scale.
The site now also presents CarboDeep Ltd’s regenerative agriculture and enhanced rock weathering programme for restoring degraded soils, improving farmer income, and removing atmospheric CO₂.
Mission and vision
CarboDeep focuses on reducing methane emissions from rice farming in Sub-Saharan Africa while improving livelihoods and protecting the planet.
Vision
Create a future where every rice field in Africa becomes a climate solution, helping farmers earn more, use less water, and support climate resilience.
Why methane matters
Methane is a high-impact greenhouse gas, and rice paddies create low-oxygen conditions that allow methane-producing microbes to thrive.
The climate challenge
- Flooded rice fields create anaerobic soil conditions.
- Those conditions increase methane formation.
- Rising rice production can increase emissions.
Why this matters
- Climate change accelerates.
- Water use becomes less efficient.
- Farmers miss income opportunities linked to carbon finance.
The opportunity
Rice systems can become climate-positive when water management, farmer training, and emissions tracking work together.
Flagship project in Kenya
The Mwea Tebere Rice Irrigation Scheme is CarboDeep's starting point for piloting methane reduction at scale with farmers.
Mwea Tebere Rice Irrigation Scheme
- One of Kenya's largest rice-growing regions.
- More than 26,000 acres under rice cultivation.
- Located along the Nyamindi and Thiba river systems.
- Designed as CarboDeep's flagship methane reduction site.
Alternate Wetting and Drying
AWD is presented as the game-changing irrigation method for lowering methane emissions while reducing water use and protecting yields.
How it works
- Fields are allowed to dry periodically.
- Oxygen re-enters the soil.
- Methane-producing microbes are suppressed.
Expected impact
- 30–50% methane reduction.
- 15–30% water savings.
- Lower irrigation costs and stable or improved yields.
Why it works
Methane forms in oxygen-deprived soils, so introducing oxygen interrupts methane formation close to its source.
How CarboDeep works
The model goes beyond awareness by combining field implementation, monitoring, and partnerships.
Farmer engagement
Farmer training and behavior change support adoption of improved irrigation practices.
Technology and data
Smart water monitoring tools and data-driven methane tracking support measurable outcomes.
Scaling systems
Carbon credit integration and partnerships with irrigation schemes and governments help scale the model.
The challenge we address
Across Kenya, smallholder farms face declining soil fertility, reduced yields, income instability, climate shocks, and long-term soil degradation caused partly by prolonged dependence on conventional chemical fertilizer systems.
Soil fertility
Prolonged use of chemical fertilizers can deplete vital soil nutrients and organic matter, leaving land less productive.
Yields
Reduced soil health contributes to lower crop performance and unstable farmer income.
Climate shocks
Drought and erratic rainfall create higher risk when soils lose structure, minerals, and water-holding capacity.
Food security
Soil degradation threatens long-term productivity and the resilience of Kenya’s agricultural systems.
Regenerative Agriculture + Enhanced Rock Weathering
CarboDeep Ltd introduces a nature-based solution that combines farmer training in regenerative practices with finely crushed olivine basalt dust application to rebuild soils and support carbon dioxide removal.
Regenerative agriculture practices
Rebuilding soil systems
CarboDeep trains and supports farmers to adopt practices that restore soil structure, biodiversity, and resilience.
- Reduced reliance on synthetic inputs.
- Organic soil enrichment.
- Crop rotation and diversification.
- Improved water retention techniques.
Olivine basalt dust
Minerals, fertility, and CO₂ removal
Finely crushed olivine basalt replenishes soil minerals, helps neutralize acidity, improves soil structure, and supports water retention.
Through mineral weathering, olivine basalt reacts with CO₂ and stores it in stable forms, turning soil restoration into a climate mitigation pathway.
Impact on farmers and the environment
The programme links soil restoration with practical livelihood gains, future carbon-market access, and wider climate benefits.
Crop yields
Healthier soils support stronger, more productive crops.
Resilience
Better soil structure improves water retention and reduces drought vulnerability.
Income
Higher yields and reduced input costs can improve farmer profitability.
Carbon markets
Future carbon removal credits can create an additional income stream for farmers.
Environmental impact
- Permanently removing atmospheric CO₂.
- Restoring degraded agricultural land.
- Reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers.
- Supporting sustainable land management practices.
Why CarboDeep?
- Science-backed solutions grounded in proven geochemical processes.
- A farmer-centered approach that respects livelihoods and local knowledge.
- Scalable impact with global climate relevance.
- Nature-based innovation that works with ecosystems, not against them.
Where we work
Smallholder farms in Kenya
CarboDeep currently partners with smallholder farmers across key agricultural regions in Kenya, with plans to scale regenerative agriculture and enhanced rock weathering across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Join us
Deep impact. Regenerative future.
CarboDeep invites farmers, partners, investors, and supporters to join a movement that regenerates the earth while feeding the world.
- Partner with us.
- Learn more about our programmes.
- Support climate-smart agriculture.
Did you know?
- Rice feeds over half of the world's population.
- Rice is one of the largest agricultural methane sources.
- Simple water management changes can transform its climate impact.
Project map notes
- Show Tebere, Thiba, and Wamumu irrigation blocks.
- Highlight farmer clusters and the Thiba and Nyamindi rivers.
- Overlay methane reduction pilot zones for the flagship project.
Join the movement beneath the surface
CarboDeep invites funders, policymakers, researchers, farmer organizations, and regenerative agriculture partners to help scale methane mitigation, soil restoration, and carbon removal across Africa.