Andes Releases First Ever Microbial Carbon Mineralization (MCM) Methodology

The launch of this ISO 14064 methodology is a critical milestone in setting a high standard for reliable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) quantification and MRV of microbial mineralization on agriculture soils. 

July 25, 2023—Andes, a carbon removal company focused on generation of inorganic carbon in agricultural soils, announced the public release of the industry-first Microbial Carbon Mineralization methodology. This document is the culmination of many years of work across the Andes team, leading academic institutions, USDA scientists, agricultural communities, and carbon market experts.

Andes developed this ISO 14064 methodology with EcoEngineers, a carbon consulting, auditing, and advisory firm with expertise in developing carbon removal monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) approaches. The methodology has been reviewed by renowned experts in geochemistry, soil science, environmental microbiology, agriculture, and carbon removal. The approach uses direct soil sampling from a rigorous protocol based on Verra’s VM0042 and incorporates feedback from USDA experts and Andes science team. 

“This document has been designed to be transparent, accountable, and conservative,” said Gonzalo Fuenzalida, CEO and co-founder of Andes. He continues: “Within the context of open terrestrial systems, we believe our methodology is paving the way for CDR companies to sustainably scale up activities, while promoting maximum visibility and transparency in methods.”

In addition to this methodology, Andes is continuing collaboration with researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Yale University, University of Texas at Austin, and several other leading institutes, and will finalize a technical white paper and peer-reviewed paper in the near future. 

This methodology is currently under validation by Earthood, an accredited auditor, in accordance with ISO 14064, an established international standard of carbon project quantification, monitoring, and reporting. Validation paves the path for independent third-party verification of Andes carbon removal activities and outcomes in accordance with this methodology. Andes will continue to refine its approach and update this methodology and collective understanding of microbial carbon mineralization (MCM) pathway in line with the best available science.

Andes expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the many individuals and organizations who reviewed this document and provided invaluable input. Andes thanks its reviewers, along with those not listed, for their time, expertise, and continued collaboration.

If you have feedback, comments, or questions on this methodology or are interested in collaborating on future initiatives, Andes welcomes and encourages you to reach out at hello@andes.bio.

About Andes

Andes is a climate tech startup based in Alameda, CA with a passion for leveraging science and technology to stop further escalation of the negative impacts caused by climate change. Through enhancing a natural process, Andes' beneficial microorganisms remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into minerals in the soil. Andes' microorganisms seamlessly integrate with traditional agricultural practices to pave the way for high permanence, low-cost carbon removals that will lower our planet's atmospheric CO2 at gigatonne scale in years, not decades.

The company has raised a total of $38 million from investors Voyager VC, Yamaha Motor Ventures, Leaps by Bayer, Cavallo Ventures,  KdT, Venturance, Germin8, and Accelr8.

For more information, go to https://www.andes.bio/