The collaboration between Carbon Registry India (CR-I), housed under the Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests (NCCF), and the Association of Indian Organic Industry (AIOI) represents far more than an institutional partnership. It is a pivotal step in reimagining how India’s organic agriculture can contribute meaningfully to climate action, resilience, and farmer prosperity. For me personally, the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June 2025 was both a professional milestone and a values-driven commitment to shaping a farmer-first, climate-positive future.
When we convened in Bengaluru shortly after the signing, I had the privilege of engaging in a deep working session with the AIOI leadership team — President Ajay Katyal, Executive Director Dr. PVSM Gouri, and my Chairman, Anil Jauhri. The discussions were not limited to ceremonial handshakes or symbolic pledges. Instead, they were focused on the hard questions: How do we embed climate integrity within organic production systems? How do we design a credible framework that integrates carbon, soil health, biodiversity, and livelihoods? And, most importantly, how do we ensure that the smallest farmer is not left behind in this transition?
Why This Collaboration Matters
India is already among the world’s leading producers of organic food, supported by the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and a strong base of farmers and cooperatives. Yet, despite its scale and potential, organic agriculture has not been fully recognized within the climate discourse. Global carbon markets continue to be dominated by forestry and renewable energy projects, while the unique carbon benefits of organic farming — from improved soil organic matter to enhanced biodiversity — remain underutilized.
This collaboration with AIOI is designed to fill that gap. By bringing together CR-I’s technical expertise in carbon standards, methodologies, and registry systems with AIOI’s leadership in organic agriculture and farmer mobilization, we are creating a holistic, credible, and scalable framework for carbon-verified organic agriculture. The intent is not to simply “add carbon credits” to existing organic practices. Rather, it is to reimagine the system so that verified carbon outcomes emerge naturally from healthier soils, stronger communities, and long-term climate adaptation.
Three Core Pillars of Our Work
From the beginning, we agreed that our partnership should focus on three core pillars:
- Methodology Development
Organic agriculture requires its own set of methodologies for carbon measurement. Unlike conventional systems, organic farming relies on ecological practices rather than chemical inputs, and this translates into distinct carbon outcomes. CR-I is working to develop methodologies tailored specifically to organic farming, aligned with our registry standards, ensuring credibility, verifiability, and global acceptance. - Capacity Building Across the Ecosystem
A credible sustainability transition requires strong capacity at all levels. Our collaboration will prioritize training and knowledge-sharing for NPOP-certified operators, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, grassroots institutions, and validation and verification bodies (VVBs). By empowering these stakeholders, we ensure that the benefits of sustainability and climate finance are not concentrated at the top but are accessible to those who need them most — the farmers themselves. - Pilot Projects for Demonstration
Theory must always meet practice. We will jointly design and implement pilot projects across diverse agro-climatic zones in India. These pilots will demonstrate real-world climate and livelihood outcomes, validate monitoring and verification systems, and serve as proof points for scaling. Importantly, they will provide evidence that farmer-first, soil-centered agriculture can deliver both resilience and market value.
Beyond Carbon as a Commodity
One of the most critical aspects of this collaboration is the shared philosophy that carbon should not be reduced to a mere commodity. Too often, the narrative around carbon credits has focused narrowly on trading units of carbon rather than addressing the underlying resilience of farming systems and communities.
Our intent is different. We see carbon as a co-benefit of resilience — a natural outcome when soils are healthy, biodiversity is thriving, and farmers are empowered. This reframing is particularly relevant today as global conversations intensify around Scope 3 emissions, food system resilience, and credible sustainability. Companies are under increasing pressure to prove the integrity of their supply chains. Our model positions India’s organic agriculture not as a supplier of cheap offsets but as a source of credible, verifiable, and resilience-driven climate outcomes.
The Broader Framework of the MoU
The MoU with AIOI is comprehensive in scope. It outlines strategic collaboration in areas such as:
- Standard Integration: Harmonizing best practices in organic farming, forestry, and carbon certification to enhance traceability and credibility.
- Research & Innovation: Driving collaborative R&D on climate-smart agriculture, soil health, biodiversity, and agroforestry.
- Policy Advocacy: Working together to influence enabling policies for sustainable land use, organic farming, and carbon governance.
- Market Development: Creating sustainability offerings such as carbon-neutral certification, organic branding, and ecosystem service valuation.
- Community Empowerment: Ensuring inclusive participation, benefit-sharing, and livelihood enhancement for farmers and indigenous communities.
- Global Positioning: Elevating India as a leader in synergistic sustainability solutions on international platforms.
The expected outcomes are ambitious but achievable: expanded certification coverage, credible carbon credit generation, access to CSR and climate finance, policy influence, data-driven impact measurement, improved livelihoods, and enhanced brand value for Indian organic produce.
A Call for Partnerships
We recognize that this vision cannot be realized by CR-I and AIOI alone. The scale of ambition requires collaboration with multiple stakeholders — from policymakers and development agencies to private companies, investors, and philanthropic organizations. There is enormous potential for CSR-aligned projects, climate finance, and co-branded sustainability initiatives.
We invite partners to co-create, co-fund, and co-lead this journey with us. Together, we can unlock verified, farmer-first carbon outcomes that enhance not just climate integrity but also market opportunities for India’s organic sector.
Looking Ahead
As I reflect on this MoU, I see it as a watershed moment where climate integrity and organic agriculture are no longer treated as separate domains but as mutually reinforcing pathways. The journey ahead will not be without challenges — from designing rigorous MRV (monitoring, reporting, and verification) systems to building trust in carbon markets and balancing financial incentives with farmer welfare.
Yet, the foundation we have laid is strong. With CR-I’s technical rigor, AIOI’s farmer networks, and the collective resolve of stakeholders, we are poised to build an India-first model of carbon-verified organic agriculture that is credible, resilient, and scalable.
The time to act is now. For India’s farmers, for global food systems, and for our shared climate future, this collaboration marks a beginning — one rooted in soil, strengthened by community, and guided by integrity.
