Introducing
Verra’s new digital soil mapping tool, developed by Perennial
VT0014 enables cost-effective, registry-grade soil carbon quantification anywhere on Earth — expanding access to carbon markets, sustainability programs, and climate finance worldwide.
4
years in the making
30+
globally-renowned experts
5000+
hours of research, testing, and stakeholder input
Millions
of dollars invested in R&D
About VT0014
Perennial led the development of VT0014, a tool for quantifying soil carbon using digital soil mapping.
Developed with a global team of scientific experts and shaped through public consultation, VT0014 is the first carbon quantification tool from a major registry to enable the use of AI.
Now approved, this tool unlocks scalable, cost-effective, registry-grade MMRV anywhere.
Developed with a global team of scientific experts and shaped through public consultation, VT0014 is the first carbon quantification tool from a major registry to enable the use of AI.
Now approved, this tool unlocks scalable, cost-effective, registry-grade MMRV anywhere.
Compared to traditional quantification approaches, digital soil mapping:
Reduces sampling
Reduces costs
Reduces uncertainty
Improves scalability
What is VT0014?
VT0014 defines how digital soil mapping can be used to quantify soil organic carbon. It provides a transparent, science-backed structure for applying spatial models within the Verified Carbon Standard.
Applies across ALM Verra methodologies
Brings consistency to digital soil mapping model use
Unlocks compatibility between models
Expands access to carbon markets
Built to evolve over time
How does digital soil mapping work?
Digital soil mapping uses soil samples and biogeochemically-informed predictors — derived from remote sensing and environmental data — to estimate soil organic carbon stocks and changes across space.
Perennial’s proprietary model, ATLAS-SOC, has integrated more than 350,000 soil samples and is peer-reviewed, validated by third parties, and designed to quantify SOC across diverse regions, land uses, and crop types.
For each project, we train ATLAS-SOC on local samples to build a model tailored to that landscape. It then fills in the gaps between samples, providing hundreds to thousands of times more SOC estimates than sampling alone. Uncertainty is modeled at the pixel level.
By combining dense data inputs with pixel-level uncertainty modeling, we achieve low uncertainty while reducing the need for extensive sampling.
Perennial’s proprietary model, ATLAS-SOC, has integrated more than 350,000 soil samples and is peer-reviewed, validated by third parties, and designed to quantify SOC across diverse regions, land uses, and crop types.
For each project, we train ATLAS-SOC on local samples to build a model tailored to that landscape. It then fills in the gaps between samples, providing hundreds to thousands of times more SOC estimates than sampling alone. Uncertainty is modeled at the pixel level.
By combining dense data inputs with pixel-level uncertainty modeling, we achieve low uncertainty while reducing the need for extensive sampling.
Supported by market leaders — from frontier projects to global enterprises
Bayer is committed to advancing the transition to regenerative agriculture globally, and we are proud to partner with an innovative technology provider that can scale alongside us. After extensive validation studies, we chose Perennial as one of our global MMRV partners due to their exceptional ability to deliver precise results with minimal sampling. The joint development efforts with Perennial not only enhance our trust in their expertise and technology but also position us at the forefront of agricultural innovation, empowering us to better reward farmers for their stewardship of the land.
Leo Bastos
SR. VICE PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF GLOBAL COMMERCIAL ECOSYSTEMS, BAYER
Digital soil mapping represents a step-change in how we assess and monitor soil carbon — delivering more precise, scalable, and credible data. For flagship projects like SARA and AgriCarbon, it’s critical we quantify impacts with confidence and speed, giving clients and stakeholders the assurance they need. By partnering with Perennial, we’re combining advanced tools with our expertise in project design, verification, and market access to maximise outcomes for both climate and nature.
Geert Eenhoorn
DIRECTOR OF CARBON PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, ANTHESIS
We're excited to see how the tool for quantifying organic carbon stocks using digital soil mapping can enable project developers like ourselves to unlock the potential of millions of acres of grasslands while maximizing the profitability of ranchers and returns to investors. With robust statistical procuedures and safeguards in place, we are excited to utilize the DSM tool to deliver low-uncertainty, registry-approved measurements to initialize our models and streamline our pathway to issuance.
Kevin Silverman
VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCT, KATERI
Perennial has filled many gaps for rTek, allowing us to focus on solving problems at the ground level. Their flexibility has allowed us to follow the data with scientific rigor and scale with finesse, which is exactly what is needed to enable carbon-based funds to improve our small section of the Altai Steppe, the largest contiguous grassland on the planet.
Stuart Bowlin
MANAGING PARTNER, RTEK
Perennial’s digital soil mapping approach aligns with AmSpec’s mission to deliver rigorous, registry-ready soil carbon monitoring at scale. Together, we’re making credible measurement more accessible — advancing sustainable land use and strengthening supply chain resilience around the world.
Gillian Dagan, PhD, EVP
BUSINESS ASSURANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY, AMSPEC
The combination of digital soil mapping with biogeochemical models may provide an efficient, accurate, and scalable solution for grasslands projects like the ones we are currently evaluating. If successful, Perennial’s approach might enable us to establish a carbon credit program that is reliable, practical to operate, and well aligned with our company.
Alejandro López
CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, ADECOAGRO
Tool approval process
VT0014 followed Verra’s multi-step process for methodology and tool development. Over a span of four years, Perennial led the technical development in close collaboration with Verra staff, independent experts, and a global network of soil scientists.
Q4 2021
Perennial submits Methodology Idea Note.
Q2 2022
Perennial submits official Concept Note.
Q1 2024
Verra officially accepts concept note.
Verra & Perennial establish Expert Working Groups.
Q2 2024
Core Expert Working Group in-person working session.
Q4 2024
Perennial submits tool to Verra, the culmination of R&D, writing, development, & approval from members.
Q1-Q2 2025
Verra runs public consultation period. 150+ comments from 20+ commenters were satisfactorily addressed.
Q2 2025
VBB review completed.
Q3 2025
Independent Expert Review with input from 30+ experts from Core Group & Advisory Group.
Final Verra Review & Approval Decision.
Digital soil mapping is critical to reducing the costs associated with the implementation and scaling up of Agricultural Land Management projects. We’re excited to see this scalable solution come to life, as it will meaningfully strengthen access to soil carbon markets for farmers and ranchers worldwide, while ensuring the highest standards of integrity and transparency for project developers and corporate buyers alike.
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The working group behind VT0014
More than 30 scientists, soil carbon experts, and MMRV practitioners contributed to the development of this tool. The working group helped shape its technical foundation and ensure it’s ready to be used across diverse regions and land types. Here are some of the contributors who helped bring it to life:
Jim Kellner, PhD
Perennial's Chief Scientist
Alexandre Wadoux, PhD
Soil Scientist and Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellow
Brian McConkey, PhD
Chief Scientist at Viresco Solutions Inc.
Dan Kane, PhD
Director of Mad! Science
Jaclyn Kachelmeyer, MS
Agricultural Carbon Practice Lead at TerraCarbon
Jonathan Sanderman, PhD
Vice President of Science at Woodell Climate Research Center
This tool integrates the latest advances in digital soil mapping, providing a robust and transparent system for detecting change with quantified uncertainty.
Alexandre Wadoux, PhD
SOIL SCIENTIST AND MARIE SKLODOWSKA-CURIE FELLOW
Cost-effective measurement of SOC stocks has been one of the greatest challenges for projects using Verra's VM0042 Alternative Land Management methodology. The VT0014 tool addresses this challenge by greatly reducing the number of soil samples needed to have a precise determination of the SOC stocks.
Brian McConkey
CHIEF SCIENTIST, VIRESCO SOLUTIONS INC.
DSM is a useful tool for estimating soil carbon stocks efficiently at the scale at which carbon projects take place. But it's critical that DSM approaches are thoroughly vetted and that users are following common guidance, otherwise it's possible projects will come to erroneous conclusions and issue credits that don't represent real removals. This tool helps to create the common assessment framework that's needed.
Dan Kane, PhD
DIRECTOR OF MAD! SCIENCE
Digital soil mapping is opening new possibilities for project developers to measure soil carbon at scale with greater efficiency and rigor. Designed for use across VCS agricultural methodologies, VT0014 ensures projects can choose the most suitable measurement approaches while maintaining flexibility to adapt as science and technology evolve.
Jaclyn Kachelmeyer
AGRICULTURAL CARBON PRACTICE LEAD, TERRACARBON
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of projects can use this tool?
How does this tool reduce the number of soil samples needed?
Does the tool work in [X country or region]?
How does VT0014 ensure scientific rigor and transparency?
Can this be used for remeasurement and monitoring? Or is digital soil mapping only useful to establish the first measurement?
Does this tool rely on a specific model or input dataset?
What is outcome-based validation?
Can this tool be used with biogeochemical models?
Where can I access the tool?
Upcoming workshops
Join Perennial’s Chief Scientist and leading project developers to explore how this tool can improve your projects.
VT0014 Workshop in English
September 17, 2025
1PM UTC / 9AM EDT / 3PM CEST.
Virtual (via Zoom).
VT0014 Workshop en español
September 18, 2025
5PM UTC / 1PM EDT / 7PM CEST.
Virtual (por Zoom).
Unlock cost-effective, registry-grade soil carbon quantification anywhere on Earth
Learn how Perennial can help you leverage VT0014 for your carbon project or sustainability program.
