Perennial | Technology | Groundbreaking without breaking ground

Compare measurement methods

Perennial is the only soil carbon MRV that quantitatively measures soil carbon stock while reducing or eliminating the need for soil sampling and practice data.

Soil sampling alone

Soil samples required (baselining)

High

Soil samples required (re-measurement)

High

Practice data required

None

Scalability

Low

Accuracy

High

Perennial’s approach

Soil samples required (baselining)

Low

Soil samples required (re-measurement)

Low

Practice data required

None

Scalability

High

Accuracy

High

Process-based modeling

Soil samples required (baselining)

High

Soil samples required (re-measurement)

High

Practice data required

High

Scalability

Medium

Accuracy

Medium

Frequently asked questions

Q: What is the source of the information you use to map soil carbon?

A: We use publicly available satellite data and other environmental variables to build statistical models that map soil organic carbon content. We test our models using high-quality soil samples we collect ourselves and from our partner network.

Q: How does your method lower the number of soil samples required to measure soil carbon?

A: Every model we develop has learned from thousands of soil samples, which means that the model adapts to new locations with a small number of additional samples. This is one of the biggest benefits of a machine learning approach. We also make precise, targeted sample plans to further improve sampling efficiency. Taken together, this means that we can measure soil carbon with fewer additional samples. And we can do it faster, at lower cost.

Q: What do you mean you don’t require farm practice data? How does that work?

A: We developed our technology to lessen the burden of collecting farm practice data. Since we combine real observations of the land with machine learning, we can quantify soil carbon directly without using biogeochemical proxies. In other words, we directly observe carbon rather than making a guess based on what the farmer has done.

Q: How do you know that your methods are accurate?

A: We ground-truth our results in every region using our own archive of top-quality soil samples. We’ve been collecting this ground-truth data for years to ensure an accurate end product. Our accuracy has also been independently validated, and we are always working with new partners to continue to demonstrate our accuracy around the world.

Q: Does it work in my area?

A: We can quantify soil organic carbon content in agricultural soils anywhere in the United States and Australia. This includes row-crops, broad-acre farming, perennial crops, pasture and rangeland.

Q: Is the Perennial methodology registry approved?

A: Perennial’s approach is compliant with the 2021 Methodology issued by the Australia Clean Energy Regulator. Perennial is actively engaged with voluntary carbon market registries in the United States to gain approval for remote sensing of soil organic carbon in agricultural land.

We also offer a number of services and analyses (sample planning, supply shed analysis, and GHG emissions tracking) which do not require registry approval.

Q: How do you track other greenhouse gasses (GHGs)?

A: We use industry-standard Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 methods for calculating GHG inventories for CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄. Our team has developed algorithms to make informed predictions of the inputs to these methods so that GHG inventories are available from the field level to the supply-shed level. By combining these methods with our soil carbon methodology, we gain a complete picture of the emissions on every farm.

Ground-breaking without breaking ground

Perennial uses the world’s most advanced remote measurement technology for soil carbon sequestration and emissions.

We fuse machine learning, ground observations, and remote sensing to map historical, present, and future soil carbon and land-based emissions at continent-level scales.

In 2021, we created the highest-ever resolution map of soil organic carbon for the continental USA.

Our technology brings accuracy, detail, and scalability to soil carbon measurement

Traditional measurement uses only a few points per field

Perennial’s measurement reveals the full picture

Traditional measurement uses only a few points per field

Perennial’s measurement reveals the full picture

Backed by the latest research

Made possible with data from

Scalable net emissions estimates without farming practice data

Compare measurement methods

Perennial is the only soil carbon MRV that quantitatively measures soil carbon stock while reducing or eliminating the need for soil sampling and practice data.

Soil sampling alone

Perennial’s approach

Process-based modeling

We believe registry compliance is critical for any carbon measurement technology

Frequently asked questions

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