Introducing the Soileos Carbon Project
For years, carbon programs in agriculture have asked growers to change how they farm.
Switch to no-till.
Change your rotation.
Adopt a new system and maybe (eventually) there might be a carbon cheque at the end.
For many growers across Western Canada, that’s been a tough sell. The Soileos Carbon Project, developed by Lucent BioSciences, takes a different approach. Instead of asking you to change your farm, it starts by improving your crop nutrition.
And the carbon?
That becomes a byproduct of better agronomy.
What Is the Soileos Carbon Project?
The Soileos Carbon Project is a 2026 pilot program for Western Canadian growers designed to measure how improved crop nutrition can increase soil carbon and generate verified carbon credits.
Participating growers apply Soileos micronutrient fertilizer as part of their normal crop nutrition program. Lucent BioSciences then manages the carbon credit process in the global market including:
- project registration
- soil sampling
- verification
- and credit sales
Growers share in the revenue generated from those credits. The goal of the pilot is simple:
Exhibit that feeding soil biology can deliver both better crop performance, measurable carbon outcomes, and a diversified ROI.
Why This Program Starts with Agronomy
Soileos isn’t a biological additive or “bugs in a jug.” It’s a plant-based micronutrient platform that binds nutrients like zinc, copper, and boron to natural cellulose fibers derived from food processing co-products such as pea, lentil, and oat hulls.
Instead of releasing nutrients immediately like conventional fertilizers, Soileos relies on natural microbial activity in the soil to break down the cellulose and release nutrients gradually.
That means:
- nutrients are delivered in sync with crop demand
- soil microbes are actively engaged in the process
- and the soil system becomes more biologically productive.
In short:
We’re not introducing new microbes.
We’re feeding the ones already working in your soil.
The Science Behind the Carbon Potential
Research conducted by Lucent Bio and published in the Open Journal of Soil Science studied the carbon sequestration potential of Soileos across greenhouse and field trials in Manitoba. The results showed:
- up to 34% increase in soil microbial activity
- potential carbon sequestration of 2.4 tonnes CO₂e per acre
- improved soil carbon balance of 15–25% compared to standard fertilization practices
This increased biological activity helps cycle nutrients more efficiently and build soil organic carbon, which is where the carbon credit opportunity comes from.
To ensure those credits have real value in the marketplace, the program follows the Verra VM0042 methodology, one of the most widely recognized global standards for agricultural carbon projects.
The Financial Opportunity for Growers
The Soileos Carbon Project is built around a simple idea:
Your primary return should still come from better crop nutrition.
The carbon credits are an added benefit. Participating growers receive:
- 50% of the gross profit from carbon credit sales
- soil sampling data showing organic carbon changes in their fields
- the agronomic benefits of improved micronutrient delivery.
Based on current market projections, carbon revenue could generate approximately $10–$20 per acre after costs.
In some cases, that has the potential to offset a significant portion (or even the full cost) of the micronutrient application.
Think of it less as a carbon payment and more as a carbon dividend on better agronomy.
Are You Farming a Carbon-Ready Acre?
One of the biggest challenges with carbon programs is operational friction.
New equipment.
New management systems.
More paperwork.
The Soileos Carbon Project is designed to work within the practices many high-performing farms are already using. The program is best suited to fields that use:
- no-till or reduced tillage systems
- crops like wheat, canola, pulses, soybeans, or oats
- 4R Crop nutrition programs
Lucent Bio manages the registration, verification, soil sampling, and credit sales process so growers can stay focused on what matters most, the crop.
The 2026 Pilot Program
For the 2026 growing season, we are enrolling growers across Western Canada for a pilot covering up to 25,000 acres. Participation requires:
- Applying Soileos on at least 400 acres
- Sharing basic land management data
- Allowing soil sampling before and after the season
- Sharing yield data from treated fields.
As with any agricultural project, results will vary depending on soil type, climate conditions, crop rotation, and management practices.
Remember You are Farming More Than Your Crop
Growers have always been stewards of the soil. Many have already adopted practices that improve soil health and long-term productivity.
The Soileos Carbon Project builds on those practices by connecting agronomic performance with emerging carbon markets. It’s not about changing how you farm. It’s about recognizing the value already being created in your soil.
Because when you improve crop nutrition, support soil biology, and build soil carbon you’re farming more than your crop.
Join the 2026 Pilot
If you're interested in participating in the Soileos Carbon Credit Pilot Program, we invite you to connect with our team to learn more about enrollment and program requirements.
Help us prove what better crop nutrition can do, not just for yield, but for the long-term productivity of your soil.