AgriCapture · Project

Satellite-Powered Platform That Measures and Verifies Soil Carbon Capture for Carbon Credits

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Imagine farmers could earn money just by changing how they work their soil — storing carbon underground instead of releasing it. The problem is, proving how much carbon the soil actually captured is expensive and slow when done by hand. AgriCapture built a platform that uses free satellite data (from the EU's Copernicus program) to automatically measure and verify soil carbon storage across entire farms. Think of it as a smart meter for carbon in the ground — so farmers can sell verified carbon credits, and food companies can prove their products are truly "zero carbon."

By the numbers

Real-world use cases tested across Europe

Consortium partners involved

European countries covered

Platform iterations developed (including demo versions)

Total project deliverables produced

SMEs in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies and farmers want to earn from carbon credits, but proving how much carbon soil actually captures is expensive, slow, and impossible to scale with manual methods. Food brands promising 'zero carbon' products need auditable proof that their supply chains truly offset emissions — and current verification can't keep up with demand.

The solution

What was built

A satellite-powered digital platform (delivered in 3 iterations) that uses free Copernicus Earth Observation data to automatically quantify, verify, and report soil carbon sequestration. The platform was tested in 5 European use cases and supported by 30 deliverables including technical documentation, market analysis, and a European Regenerative Agriculture Community.

Audience

Who needs this

Food brands and retailers wanting verified 'zero carbon' or 'climate positive' product labelsCarbon offset registries and voluntary carbon market platforms needing scalable verificationAgricultural cooperatives looking to monetize regenerative farming through carbon creditsSustainability consultancies advising large landowners on carbon farming strategiesGovernment agencies managing LULUCF reporting and agricultural climate subsidies

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Food & Beverage

enterprise

Target: Food processors and brands seeking verified carbon-neutral product claims

If you are a food company under pressure to prove your supply chain is climate-friendly — AgriCapture developed a satellite-based verification platform tested across 5 European use cases that can certify the carbon captured by your supplier farms. Instead of relying on expensive manual soil sampling, the platform uses Copernicus Earth Observation data to automatically quantify and verify soil carbon, letting you credibly label products as 'zero carbon' with auditable data.

Carbon Certification & Offsetting

any

Target: Carbon standard bodies and voluntary offset registries

If you are a carbon certification organization struggling to scale your verification processes — AgriCapture built an automated platform (now in its 3rd iteration) that replaces manual carbon accounting with satellite-based measurement. Co-created with a Reg Agri certifier and an emission balance certifying organisation within the 14-partner consortium, this tool lets you verify carbon sequestration claims across large agricultural areas without sending auditors to every field.

Agriculture & Cooperatives

mid-size

Target: Agricultural cooperatives and large farming operations

If you are an agricultural cooperative looking to generate new revenue from carbon farming — AgriCapture developed a platform that quantifies the carbon your member farms capture through regenerative practices. Tested with agricooperatives across 7 European countries, the system turns satellite data into verified carbon credits your farmers can sell. The project also established a European Regenerative Agriculture Community to connect farmers directly with carbon credit buyers.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to use the AgriCapture platform?

The project data does not disclose specific pricing. However, AgriCapture was designed as a commercial service — the consortium planned to pursue post-project service provision contracts before the project ended in 2023. The platform relies on free Copernicus satellite data, which should keep operating costs lower than manual soil sampling methods.

Can this scale beyond the pilot farms to thousands of hectares?

Scalability was a core design goal. The platform was specifically built to overcome the limitations of manual carbon accounting methods 'that cannot be easily scaled.' It was tested across 5 diverse use cases in 7 European countries, and uses freely available Copernicus Earth Observation data that covers all of Europe.

Who owns the technology and can I license it?

The platform was developed by a 14-partner consortium led by GILAB DOO BEOGRAD, a Serbian SME. As an Innovation Action project, IP typically stays with the consortium partners. Based on available project data, the consortium planned commercial service provision — contact the coordinator to discuss licensing or service agreements.

Is the platform still operational after the project ended?

The project closed in December 2023. The consortium delivered 3 iterations of the platform and planned post-project service contracts. The project website (agricaptureco2.eu) was active during the project period. Current operational status should be confirmed directly with the coordinator.

How does this compare to manual soil carbon measurement?

Traditional carbon accounting for land use relies on manual methodologies — physical soil sampling, lab analysis — which the project explicitly identifies as unable to scale. AgriCapture replaces this with automated satellite-based measurement using Copernicus data, enabling continuous monitoring across large areas without field visits.

Does this meet existing carbon credit standards?

The platform was co-created with a Reg Agri certifier and an emission balance certifying organisation as consortium partners, suggesting alignment with existing certification requirements. The project aimed to produce a 'systematic, robust and flexible platform for quantifying, verifying, and promoting soil C capture.' Specific standard compliance should be verified with the coordinator.

What technical infrastructure do I need to integrate this?

Based on available project data, AgriCapture is a platform service that processes Copernicus satellite data — users would not need their own satellite infrastructure. The platform went through 3 development iterations and was designed for use by farmers, food companies, and certifiers, suggesting a user-friendly interface rather than heavy technical requirements.

Consortium

Who built it

The 14-partner consortium across 7 countries (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, UK) is well-balanced for commercialization: 6 industry partners and 7 SMEs give it a 43% industry ratio, meaning nearly half the consortium has direct market incentives. The coordinator, GILAB from Serbia, is itself an SME — often a sign that the project was driven by commercial ambition rather than pure academic interest. With only 2 universities and 1 research organization, the consortium leans heavily toward application and deployment. The inclusion of agricooperatives, an agri-processor, and two types of certifying organizations as co-creation partners shows the platform was built with paying customers at the table, not just researchers.

GILAB DOO BEOGRADCoordinator · RS
EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL BUREAUparticipant · BE
ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS - DIMITRAparticipant · EL
LINKING ENVIRONMENT AND FARMING LBGparticipant · UK
GAME AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUSTparticipant · UK
GEOPONIKO PANEPISTIMION ATHINONparticipant · EL
PLANET LABS GERMANY GMBHparticipant · DE
ARTHUR'S LEGAL BVparticipant · NL

How to reach the team

GILAB DOO BEOGRAD (Serbia) — Serbian SME specializing in geospatial solutions. Contact via SciTransfer for a warm introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See GILAB DOO BEOGRAD profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how satellite-verified carbon credits could work for your farm or food brand? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the AgriCapture team and help assess fit for your operation.

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