Key Takeaways
- Veterans Carbon Holdings (VCH) confirmed issuance of the first third-party validated soil-sample carbon credits in the United States.
- Credits are based on direct stratified soil sampling and validated under BCarbon’s Soil Carbon Protocol v2.0.
- Serialization is underway using DOVU’s blockchain infrastructure on Hedera for full traceability.
- The initial credits originate from farmland in the Red River Valley.
- VCH projects distributing approximately $1.1 billion to U.S. farmers and landowners over nine years, with 55% of revenue allocated to growers.
Veterans Carbon Holdings Confirms Issuance of Soil-Sample Carbon Credits
Veterans Carbon Holdings (VCH) has announced that the first-ever third-party validated soil-sample carbon credits have officially been issued in the United States. The credits are based on direct soil measurement rather than satellite imagery or practice-based modeling.
According to the company, the credits were generated using stratified soil sampling and independently validated under BCarbon’s Soil Carbon Protocol v2.0. Serialization is currently in progress through DOVU’s blockchain infrastructure on Hedera, enabling traceability from issuance through sale.
The credits originate from agricultural land in the Red River Valley and represent verified subsoil carbon gains under BCarbon’s scientific framework.
Direct Soil Measurement Replaces Modeling Approaches
VCH stated that its methodology focuses on measuring actual carbon concentrations at soil depth, rather than estimating outcomes based on farming practices or remote sensing data.
Independent reviewers and protocol validation indicate that direct soil measurement is identifying higher levels of stored carbon in agricultural subsoils than are typically captured by imagery-based or modeling approaches. The company noted that this approach may reveal carbon gains that are underrepresented in conventional carbon programs.
“This is proven, measured carbon,” said Stephen Gorton, Scientist and Owner of Veterans Carbon Holdings. “For years, carbon markets have relied heavily on modeling. We are replacing estimation with field-based verification and scientific rigor. Farmers should be paid for what they actually deliver.”
Revenue Distribution and Veterans Carbon Holdings Expansion Plans
VCH announced plans to distribute approximately $1.1 billion in direct payments to U.S. farmers and landowners over the next nine years, with 55% of revenue allocated to participating growers.
“Over the next nine years, we project approximately $1.1 billion returning directly to American farmers and landowners,” said Katie Lorenz, President of Veterans Carbon Holdings. “If the carbon comes from the soil, the majority of the value belongs to the farmer.”
The company projects expansion across 1.5 to 2 million acres in North Dakota and western Minnesota in 2026.
The first U.S. grower to receive issued soil-sample carbon credits, Stuart Eeg of Greenbush, Minnesota, stated: “This program returns real income to farmers. It rewards stewardship with measurable proof, not assumptions.”
VCH indicated that by positioning credits through DOVU’s Article 6-aligned infrastructure, it aims to access international markets that require transparency, auditability, and measurable environmental outcomes. As serialization progresses, each credit will carry verification and traceability from validation through sale.
