South Pole, Gaïago, and Gold Standard issue European soil carbon credits, unlocking verified regenerative agriculture removals for corporate buyers

• First-of-its-kind project in France and Belgium marks a major breakthrough for carbon credit buyers seeking high-integrity, high-impact regenerative agriculture removals in Europe; providing buyers with a credible option in meeting SBTi’s new OER recognition scheme.
• First project worldwide to issue carbon credits under Gold Standard’s flagship Soil Organic Carbon Framework Methodology.
• Delivers scientifically verified soil carbon removals across the first 6,000 hectares enrolled in the project while enhancing soil fertility, water retention, and farm-level climate resilience.

ZURICH - October 6, 2026: South Pole, Gaïago, and Gold Standard today announced the first carbon credit issuance from the European Soil Revitalization Programme across France and Belgium.  As a global first for climate finance, the European Soil Revitalization Programme is the first project worldwide to be design-certified and issue carbon credits under Gold Standard’s Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Framework Methodology, offering buyers unprecedented access to high-integrity, regenerative agriculture carbon removals in Europe.

This inaugural issuance reflects the initial 6,000 verified hectares, and full enrollment across all 727 participating farms will scale the initiative to over 39,282 hectares – removing a forecasted 264,174 tCO₂e over its first crediting period.

For corporate buyers navigating the carbon market, securing high-quality, scientifically verified carbon removal credits in the land-use sector has historically proven challenging – a challenge now sharpened further by the Science Based Targets Initiative’s (SBTi) updated Corporate Net Zero Standard, which sets specific requirements for the use of credits to address both ongoing emissions and residual emissions at net zero. This landmark issuance bridges proven agronomic practice with best-class carbon accounting, offering corporate buyers a credible tool to address ongoing emissions and advance their net zero strategies.

Unlocking High-Integrity Removals at Scale 

Agricultural soils represent one of the world’s greatest opportunities for new carbon sequestration, yet transitioning to regenerative practices carries financial risks and yield uncertainties for farmers. The European Soil Revitalization Programme addresses these barriers by combining carbon finance with proven agronomic innovation.

Implemented and operated on the ground by agtech Gaïago, the programme launched in 2022 with a 20-year operational horizon. Since 2022, South Pole has acted as the carbon asset development partner to Gaïago, leading the project development and the verification processes required to achieve certification under Gold Standard.

The initiative equips farmers across France and Belgium with a tailored suite of regenerative practices, combining reduced or zero tillage to minimize soil disturbance with enhanced year-round cover cropping to boost water retention and nutrient levels. Central to the programme is the mandatory application of Gaïago’s proprietary NUTRIGEO®L biostimulant, which restores microbial diversity and improves soil structure.

The project applies the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) GSOC MRV protocol and aligns directly with the FAO RECSOIL Initiative. To date, 1,972 local stakeholders have already been trained on soil health.

Aaron Barasz, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer, South Pole: "Trust and integrity are non-negotiable for carbon credit buyers. This milestone proves that soil carbon removals can be measured, verified, and delivered at scale under the highest international standards. Drawing on over 20 years of carbon asset expertise, South Pole is proud to help corporate buyers invest with confidence in high-impact, future-proof, diversified removal strategies." 

Vanessa Pezet, Gaïago Carbon Program Director, Gaïago: "Transitioning to regenerative agriculture requires financial backing and practical support for farmers on the frontlines of climate change. As project proponent, Gaïago is showing that restoring soil health directly reinforces farmer resilience and productivity. This issuance validates the dedication of hundreds of French and Belgian farmers leading the agroecological transition." 

Sarah Leugers, Chief Growth Officer at Gold Standard: “Without healthy soil, life on our planet cannot thrive. It is not only a critical tool to mitigate emissions through carbon sequestration but also supports sustainable agriculture and global food security. As the first project worldwide to issue credits under our Soil Organic Carbon Framework Methodology, the European Soil Revitalization Programme shows how rigorous standards can unlock vital finance for sustainable land management. We congratulate Gaïago and South Pole on this important milestone.”

Media contact
southpole@h-advisors.global

Notes to the editor

• Soil health baseline: Between 60% and 70% of European soils are currently degraded. Agriculture accounts for 23% of European GHG emissions (with 57% linked to synthetic fertilizers and ruminants), while cereal yields have stagnated for over 20 years.
• Standards & protocols: The project is certified under Gold Standard’s Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Framework Methodology (specifically the Activity Module on biostimulants for soil revitalization). The project applies the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) GSOC MRV protocol and aligns with the FAO RECSOIL Initiative.
• Project impact to date: according to the latest calculations (August 2026), the first cohort enrolled in the project has removed roughly 3.1 tCO₂e per hectare annually in the past three years.
• SBTi Corporate Ne -Zero Standard: The Science Based Targets initiative is finalising definitive guidelines for the use of carbon credits in addressing both ongoing post-2035 emissions and residual emissions at net zero.
• Exploring supply chain use cases: South Pole and Gaïago are exploring how Gold Standard’s quantification approach could support future insetting projects focusing on soil carbon, to meet growing corporate demand for Scope 3 decarbonisation aligned with the GHG Protocol and the Land Sector and Removal Standard.