November 13, 2025

Scaling the L-CAM Model from India to Vietnam: strengthen climate accountability in the rice sector.

Announcing the New SRP Technical Committee Sustainable Rice Platform Partners with CarbonFarm and Blue Ocean Im-Export Co., Ltd. to Launch Low-Carbon Rice Assurance Pilot Project in Vietnam with ISEAL Support

Bangkok, 30 October 2025 – The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), in partnership with CarbonFarm and Blue Ocean Im-Export Co., Ltd., (Lotus Rice) is proud to announce the launch of its latest initiative under the ISEAL Innovations Fund: the replication of a Low Carbon Assurance Module (L-CAM) for sustainable rice production.

Building on a successful pilot in India, the L-CAM will now be scaled and tested in Vietnam–one of the world’s most important rice-producing countries. The project aims to provide a credible, science-based system for measuring and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in rice cultivation, helping value chain actors strengthen their climate commitments while opening new opportunities for farmers.

“Rice is central to global food security, but it is also a significant source of methane emissions. With the L-CAM, we are creating a practical, cost-effective tool to help farmers, supply chain partners, and governments alike make credible progress towards climate goals,” said Jens Soth, Executive Director of SRP.

Tackling Climate Challenges with Innovation

Rice farming is responsible for up to 10% of global methane emissions. Yet measuring and accounting for these emissions has long been a challenge due to cost and complexity. By combining satellite-based remote sensing technologies with localized emission data, L-CAM will ease the audit burden on producers and Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), while ensuring credibility and transparency in emission reduction claims.

The project will engage Vietnamese smallholder farmers, local Internal Management System (IMS) teams, and supply chain companies, providing them with training and digital monitoring tools. This will enable farmers not only to adopt climate-smart practices such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), residue management and improved nutrient management, but also strengthen their position in the rice market and prepare for future opportunities in carbon-related initiatives.

A Collaborative Effort

The 14-month project (September 2025 – October 2026) is supported by the ISEAL Innovations Fund, with a total budget of CHF 160,000.

• SRP will lead global project management and integration of L-CAM into its Assurance Scheme and the RiceTrace platform.
• CarbonFarm brings expertise in satellite and AI-powered digital measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.
• Blue Ocean Im-Export Co., Ltd. (Lotus Rice) will serve as the local implementation partner, coordinating farmer engagement in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Blue Ocean will train smallholder farmers, manage IMS teams, and ensure accurate data collection aligned with international standards.

“What excites us is not only the technology, but also the collaboration,” said Vassily Carantino, CEO & Co-founder of CarbonFarm. “By combining ground-level partnerships with cutting-edge MRV, we can support smallholder farmers in Vietnam and build a model that’s relevant for agri-food systems worldwide.”

“At Lotus Rice, we believe that sustainability must start from the field—where every seed, every drop of water, and every farmer’s effort contributes to a more resilient food system. Through this partnership with SRP and CarbonFarm, we aim to integrate science-based, low-carbon practices into Vietnam’s rice heartland, the Mekong Delta. By empowering farmers with knowledge, we can reduce emissions, enhance soil health, and create long-term environmental and social value,” said Bill Huynh, CEO of Lotus Rice.”

Global Relevance, Local Impact

The L-CAM pilot in Vietnam demonstrates how low-carbon rice production contributes to more sustainable farming systems while providing verified emissions data that enhances transparency and climate accountability across the supply chain. Over time, the approach will be scaled to reach more producers and regions, driving broader transformation across the rice sector.

Global supply chain partners will also gain access to reliable Scope 3 data to meet Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitments and strengthen sustainability reporting. By showcasing a scalable and replicable assurance model, SRP and its partners are setting a new benchmark for low-carbon transformation and resilience in global food systems.

About the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP)

The Sustainable Rice Platform is a global multi-stakeholder alliance dedicated to transforming the rice sector through sustainable production, consumption, and trade. With over 100 institutional members including governments, research bodies, NGOs, and private companies, SRP develops the world’s first rice sustainability standard, performance indicators, and assurance scheme. Its mission is to improve farmer livelihoods, reduce environmental impacts, and ensure the long-term resilience of rice systems worldwide.

About CarbonFarm

CarbonFarm is a climate-tech company that leverages remote sensing and AI to quantify greenhouse gas emissions reduction in rice cultivation. Its platform supports farmers, companies, and sustainability initiatives in measuring, verifying, and reducing emissions at scale. By providing accurate and ground-truthed data, CarbonFarm ensures transparency for high-quality carbon credits, strengthens supply chain accountability, and unlocks new financing opportunities for low-carbon rice production.

About Blue Ocean Im-Export Co., Ltd. (Lotus Rice)

Lotus Rice is a leading Vietnamese rice company committed to advancing sustainable and climate-smart agriculture. Based in the Mekong Delta, Lotus Rice partners with cooperatives and international initiatives to promote responsible cultivation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen farmer resilience to climate change. With over 15 years of experience and a global export presence across 55 countries, the company strives to bring the purity of Vietnamese rice to the world, while contributing to a low-carbon, sustainable future for the rice sector.

Website: www.lotusrice.vn

About ISEAL Innovations Fund

Launched in 2016, the ISEAL Innovations Fund supports pioneering projects that strengthen sustainability systems worldwide. Funded by SECO (Switzerland) and UK International Development, the Fund enables organizations to test, refine, and scale innovations in areas such as climate action, traceability, and smallholder inclusion. With nearly 100 projects funded to date, it serves as both a grant facility and a learning platform, generating insights that enhance the credibility, impact, and adaptability of sustainability practices globally.