The Science Behind the CarbonoVivo Project
- Laura Cubillos
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
Using the “RothC” model for reliable baseline calculations and carbon accounting
By using sustainable land management techniques, CarbonoVivo is turning degraded soil on Colombian farms into healthy and fertile carbon sinks – a win-win for farmers, livestock, and the climate. But what’s the technology behind the project and how is the permanence of this nature-based carbon removal solution ensured? Let’s dig into it with this blog by Laura and Nataly Cubillos, Co-Founders of Carbono Local+ and the CarbonoVivo Project.
As the world seeks scalable, science-backed climate solutions, one of the most powerful tools lies beneath our feet: soil. Soil carbon is part of the Earth’s natural carbon cycle, just as trees, oceans, and wetlands are. Soils are living ecosystems that “breathe” – they capture carbon dioxide through plant roots, biomass, and microbial activity, and they also release carbon as part of natural cycles. Yet, when managed in a sustainable way over time, soil, and grasslands in particular, can become significant and permanent carbon sinks and valuable ecosystems. Many years ago, this idea was the starting point of our CarbonoVivo Project.
By increasing soil organic matter, regenerative livestock farming projects like ours help mitigate climate change with permanent carbon removals, boost agricultural productivity, and improve ecosystem resilience. But as soils are complex biological systems, accounting for changes in the carbon content can be a challenging task: Growth rates and dynamics in soil organic carbon stocks are highly context-dependent, influenced by multiple factors including climate, source material, prior land use and management, degradation level and plant species. Factoring in all relevant parameters demands robust science and credible modeling. As one of the first of its kind, the CarbonoVivo Project utilizes the so-called RothC model in a pioneering approach to produce the most reliable results.
©Carbono Local+/CarbonoVivo
The Science Behind the Solution: Why We Use the RothC Model
To measure the carbon content in the soils within the project areas of our CarbonoVivo Project, we’re using RothC (Rothamsted Carbon Model) – an internationally recognized tool for measuring and simulating dynamics in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. RothC is a system of mathematical equations that lets us model how organic matter decomposes and transforms into stable carbon pools, accounting for variables like temperature, moisture, soil type, and plant cover. What sets the RothC model apart is its empirical foundation and global credibility. It has been extensively peer-reviewed, meeting the highest standards for transparency and scientific rigor. RothC has demonstrated high accuracy across various land uses. Originally developed for arable land, RothC has been successfully adapted for grassland ecosystems.
Our CarbonoVivo Project uses the RothC model to simulate carbon stocks in the soil prior to and after the implementation of the project activities. This ensures that our carbon removal estimates are scientifically sound and tailored to local degrees of land degradation. Carbon soil models like RothC are not substitutes for measurement – they are tools to integrate data over time and space where direct measurement at every point would be impractical. By using RothC modeling, we can not only reconstruct past carbon stocks but also project future gains with high confidence and meet the stringent requirements of leading carbon standards like Verra’s verified VMD0053 and VM0042 methodology.
Calculating a Reliable Baseline for Credible Carbon Removals
Calculating the baseline, particularly the baseline degradation level, prior land uses, and prior biomass production, are extremely important because these factors determine the soil’s capacity to capture carbon and establish the initial carbon stock before project implementation. To avoid biased predictions of SOC changes at the project locations in Colombia, we worked with our partner SoilWatch to adapt the RothC model to the specific context of this project.
SoilWatch uses its carbon modeling expertise to support us with our community-centered monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of soil carbon stocks. This includes rigorous field sampling in close cooperation with our farmers and local communities, capacity building so that communities can become more involved with and have greater ownership of MRV, as well as meticulous stratification of the project area (i.e. dividing agricultural land into distinct zones based on similar soil characteristics).
Before the project started, we reviewed peer literature to ensure the modelled SOC sequestration aligns with measured values in empirical experiments and to identify key parameters likely to influence model behavior, such as temperature and moisture sensitivity. As a next step this, we then conducted a sensitivity analysis to confirm that predictions align closely with actual soil measurements.
We reconstructed baseline carbon stocks in the soil by looking at the following indicators:
decline in organic matter content,
recession of vegetation cover or biomass,
thinning of the topsoil organic layer,
and scarcity of surface litter and debris.
These indicators were used to classify land as “degraded” or “degrading”.
SoilWatch calibrated and validated the RothC carbon model so that it reflects the unique local conditions of Colombia’s diverse grasslands and ecoregions to generate unbiased and accurate baseline soil carbon estimates. As part of extensive on-site data collection, they analyzed over 300 AI optimized soil samples alongside comprehensive environmental data across stratified land units. After analyzing the site-specific data based on the indicators mentioned above, the baseline in the project areas was labeled as degraded. Degraded paddocks offer the greatest potential for improvement: restoring degraded soils to their natural carbon-holding capacity not only leads to long-term carbon sequestration but also delivers co-benefits such as improved water retention.
What We’ve Measured So Far
Our CarbonoVivo team conducted soil sampling across the nine stratified land units of the project, covering 52 paddocks managed by 49 landowners in Colombia under regenerative livestock farming practices. The fieldwork and analysis spanned six months. Results indicate that, between 2020 and 2023, the project sequestered 64,476 tons of carbon, equivalent to 236,412 tons of CO₂, as a direct outcome of implementing regenerative practices.
And there’s more to come: Over its lifetime, our project will verifiably sequester more than 30 million metric tons of CO₂e for the long term. With multiple levels of auditing, and rigorous satellite and AI enabled near real-time monitoring, we’re ensuring that the carbon removals achieved by the CarbonoVivo Project are credible.
We are happy to have the continued support of our project partner and carbon market expert First Climate, who is not only providing us with strategic guidance and is also our exclusive partner for selling the carbon credits generated by the CarbonoVivo Project. For companies looking for carbon credits, this means that they can rest assured that they are investing in a project that is storing carbon for the long-term supported by a collaborative network of experienced partners.
A Holistic Vision
Soil carbon projects like ours are not just about carbon – they are about ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and empowering rural livelihoods. Go beyond the science and see how the CarbonoVivo Project is transforming farms across Colombia.
Soil carbon sequestration is one of the most effective and permanent solutions to climate change.
With RothC as our scientific backbone and regenerative livestock as our operational model, CarbonoVivo is leading the way in driving impactful climate action.
About Carbono Local +
Carbono Local+, headquartered in Cologne (Germany) and Bogotá (Colombia), has supported projects from feasibility studies through to documentation development and certification under the most recognized carbon market standards. Its successful track record includes projects in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Mozambique, El Salvador, Turkey, and Colombia.
About the Authors
Laura Cubillos, Co-Founder & Head of Development for Carbon Impact Projects at Carbono Local+, leads stakeholder engagement for the CarbonoVivo project. She is a chemical engineer with a specialization in renewable energy management and has multiple years of experience in the voluntary carbon market. Her work focuses on building strategic partnerships for the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and providing technical leadership for carbon balance assessments in AFOLU and waste management projects.
Nataly Cubillos, CEO, Co-Founder & Lead of Carbon Removal Projects and Strategy, heads the company’s carbon removal initiatives and waste management projects, as well as the certification process through Verra/VCS for the CarbonoVivo project. She is an environmental manager, specialized in natural resource management and carbon footprint accounting, with multiple years of experience in the voluntary carbon market and climate finance.
