Carbon Yield
Carbon Yield is a Chicago-based agricultural carbon market services company founded in 2019 that helps farmers, ranchers, and cooperatives access carbon credit markets and conservation programs, while enabling corporations, government agencies, and brands to meet Scope 3 emissions commitments through regenerative agriculture program design and GHG quantification.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Carbon Yield does
Carbon Yield is a Chicago-based agricultural carbon market services company founded in 2019 by Sam Schiller and Claire Pluard, both Northwestern Kellogg School of Management alumni. The company designs and administers greenhouse gas (GHG) and regenerative agriculture programs that connect farmers, ranchers, and land managers with corporate buyers, government agencies, and agricultural cooperatives. Its work touches hundreds of thousands of acres across the United States, with active programs spanning up to 38 states following the September 2025 McDonald's USA Grassland Resilience Initiative. Carbon Yield serves four primary customer segments: farmers and ranchers seeking new revenue from regenerative practices; global brands and corporations pursuing Scope 3 emissions reductions and resilient sourcing; government agencies (USDA, state departments of agriculture, conservation districts) implementing climate legislation; and agricultural cooperatives helping farmer suppliers navigate GHG programs.
The company's core technology stack comprises GHG quantification and modeling, geospatial data analysis and mapping, soil carbon modeling, and life cycle assessment (LCA) tools. Carbon Yield deploys multi-model ensemble simulations combining established biogeochemical models (COMET, HabiTerre) with AI for predictive analytics on soil carbon gains and emission reductions. Through an ongoing partnership with Dr. Bruno Basso's lab at Michigan State University, the company advances GHG monitoring accuracy in cropland systems. Proprietary data systems include custom databases, GHG impact assessment infrastructure, and geospatial pipelines. CEO Sam Schiller has released certain quantification tools into the public domain to advance sector credibility.
Carbon Yield's revenue model combines two streams: (1) transaction fees on carbon credit sales — the company negotiates premium prices above $100 per ton on behalf of farmer clients and earns a share of transaction value — and (2) professional services fees for program design, administration, and strategic advisory work delivered to corporations, governments, and cooperatives. Key programs include the $200M+ Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative with McDonald's USA and NFWF (up to 4 million acres), the Michigan Climate Smart Farms Project, and the Michigan Regenerative Dairy Program with Dairy Management Inc. and the Michigan Milk Producers Association. Notable enterprise clients include McDonald's USA, Ben & Jerry's, and SLM Partners (over $760 million in farmland under management).
Carbon Yield firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carbon Yield
- Legal name
- Carbon Yield
- Website
- https://carbon-yield.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Carbon Yield is a Chicago-based agricultural carbon market services company founded in 2019 that helps farmers, ranchers, and cooperatives access carbon credit markets and conservation programs, while enabling corporations, government agencies, and brands to meet Scope 3 emissions commitments through regenerative agriculture program design and GHG quantification.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carbon Yield industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Carbon Market Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (1153)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Soil & Biomass Carbon Measurement (Soil Sampling, Forest Inventory, Blue Carbon) (EUABACAH), GHG Monitoring Plans & Sampling Design (Field Protocols, QA/QC) (EUABACAE), Carbon Credit Ratings & Due Diligence (Quality Scoring, Integrity Assessments) (EUABADAF), Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE)
Keywords
Where Carbon Yield is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carbon Yield business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Carbon Credit Revenue Sharing: Carbon Yield helps farmers and ranchers generate carbon credits through regenerative practices and negotiates premium carbon credit agreements on their behalf. The company generates revenue by facilitating carbon credit sales between producers and corporate buyers, earning a share of the transaction value.
- Program Design and Administration Services: Advisory and program management fees from corporations, governments, and cooperatives seeking to develop agricultural carbon programs and GHG initiatives.
- Strategic Advisory Services: Guiding government agencies, corporations, and NGOs in navigating agricultural carbon markets and developing effective GHG program strategies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Carbon credit offset sales at premium prices |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Carbon Yield product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carbon Yield designs, administers, and advises on agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon programs for corporations, governments, and cooperatives. The company quantifies and models GHG emissions and removals, validates climate-smart practices, and connects farmers and ranchers to corporate buyers through premium carbon credit agreements and conservation programs.
Product overview
Carbon Yield is a service-based company offering four core service areas: Program Design & Administration, Strategic Advisory, GHG Quantification & Modeling, and Practice Innovation & Validation. These services help farmers, ranchers, and land managers access carbon markets and regenerative agriculture programs. The company also runs specific programs including the Michigan Climate Smart Farms Project and the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative in partnership with McDonald's USA. Carbon Yield connects producers with corporate buyers seeking sustainable commodities and credible GHG reductions, facilitating new revenue streams through carbon credit sales and conservation grants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Program Design and Administration Creates and manages comprehensive carbon programs that integrate financial incentives, technical assistance, impact measurement, and producer support to deliver measurable climate outcomes at scale for corporate, government, and cooperative clients.
- Strategic Advisory Guides government agencies, corporations, cooperatives, and NGOs in navigating agricultural carbon markets and developing effective strategies for participating in and implementing GHG programs.
- GHG Quantification and Modeling Transforms field data into credible carbon metrics through comprehensive GHG calculations, baseline development, and deployment of modeling innovations that meet rigorous market standards, including life cycle assessment and multi-model ensemble simulations.
- Practice Innovation and Validation Advances promising climate-smart agricultural interventions from regenerative grazing systems to soil amendments like biochar by providing the scientific validation needed to integrate them into carbon markets and incentive programs.
- Regenerative Practice Guidance Expert guidance for farmers and ranchers on regenerative practices including cover crops, rotational grazing, feed additives for enteric methane reduction, and other soil health and emission reduction practices.
- Incentive Program Support Supports producers with data collection and navigation of complex carbon and conservation programs, manages carbon offset and inset projects from start to finish, and connects program sponsors with producers.
- Carbon Credit Market Access Enables farmers and ranchers to access carbon markets and negotiate premium carbon credit agreements worth more than $100 per ton through facilitation with corporate buyers.
- Michigan Climate Smart Farms Project Pilot verification program supporting small and diversified farms with certifications for climate-friendly practices, technical assistance, financial incentives up to $50 per acre, and access to new climate-smart markets.
- Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative Major multi-stakeholder initiative facilitating environmental impact across up to 4 million acres of grazing lands with over $200 million in investment for regenerative agriculture, leveraging novel monitoring and accounting solutions for ecosystem outcomes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $15 million in conservation grants secured for soil health and livestock emission reduction programs
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Carbon Yield
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Carbon Yield technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
Carbon Yield partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, secondary and minor.
- McDonald's USAflagshipCarbon Yield leads and manages the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative with McDonald's USA, NFWF, and Kateri. This partnership will facilitate environmental impact across up to 4 million acres of grazing lands in up to 38 states with an investment exceeding $200 million, representing McDonald's most significant regenerative agriculture investment. The program deploys novel monitoring and accounting solutions for ecosystem outcomes.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)flagshipNFWF is a key partner in the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, contributing significant funding alongside McDonald's USA and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service to unlock federal conservation funding across ranching communities.
- Climate TRACEcoreCarbon Yield serves as the agricultural sector lead and founding coalition member of Climate TRACE, a global emissions tracking coalition founded by former Vice President Al Gore. Carbon Yield manages global agricultural research teams at leading institutions including the Bruno Basso Lab at Michigan State University.
- Michigan State University (Basso Lab)coreCarbon Yield has worked in close partnership with Dr. Bruno Basso and the Basso Lab at Michigan State University since 2021 to advance accuracy and breadth of greenhouse gas monitoring solutions in cropland production systems. The collaboration produces regular assessments of GHG across key agricultural systems.
- Dairy Management Inc.coreCarbon Yield partners with DMI, the U.S. dairy trade association, to create comprehensive resources helping small dairy cooperatives and processors navigate emerging Scope 3 GHG opportunities and cost-share incentive programs. This includes developing educational materials through stakeholder interviews.
- Grassland 2.0coreCarbon Yield partners with Grassland 2.0 to reshape regenerative dairy through innovative heifer grazing systems that benefit farmers, animals, and the planet. The partnership helps quantify ecosystem benefits and incorporate regenerative grazing into dairy industry GHG incentive programs.
- USDA (Office of the Chief Economist)coreCarbon Yield supports the USDA's Office of the Chief Economist in implementing the Growing Climate Solutions Act and broader engagement with GHG markets. In partnership with Lindahl Reed, Carbon Yield co-authored the public report assessing agricultural and forestry opportunities in carbon markets.
- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentsecondaryCarbon Yield partners with MDARD to develop a comprehensive market framework connecting Michigan's regenerative farmers with corporate buyers seeking sustainable commodities and credible GHG reductions. This includes buyer analysis, supply chain mapping, and GHG baselines.
- Michigan Milk Producers AssociationsecondaryThe Michigan Regenerative Dairy Program partners with Michigan Milk Producers Association, a cooperative representing over 1,600 dairy farmers, to deploy $5-10 million in financial assistance for stewardship practices and connect farmers to brands committed to climate-friendly dairy.
- SLM PartnerssecondarySince 2020, Carbon Yield and SLM Partners work together to connect SLM's extensive investments in regenerative organic agriculture (over $760 million in farmland) with carbon market opportunities. Carbon Yield provides hands-on data collection, technical services, and seamless program enrollment.
- KaterisecondaryKateri provides rancher-focused technologies that help capture restoration generated through the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, enabling conservation technical assistance organizations in the network.
- Delta InstituteminorCEO Sam Schiller previously served as Board Chair of the Delta Institute, a nonprofit specializing in environmental markets, regenerative agriculture, and conservation finance. Carbon Yield sponsored BOOST 2020 competition for emerging sustainability entrepreneurs.
- Michigan Association of Conservation DistrictssecondaryCarbon Yield partners with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts and local conservation districts across four Michigan counties to coordinate incentive payments, technical assistance, and data collection for the Michigan Climate Smart Farms Project.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Carbon Yield competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nori: Nori operates a blockchain-based marketplace for soil carbon removal credits and runs farmer enrollment, verification, and credit issuance. It is a direct peer for soil-carbon credit origination — Carbon Yield has specifically referenced the Nori carbon market in its farmer case work (e.g., PT Ranch).
- Regrow Ag: Regrow Ag offers crop modeling, MRV, and Scope 3 measurement tools used by food and ag companies to run regenerative agriculture and carbon programs. It is a direct peer in agricultural GHG quantification and program enablement, with overlap on enterprise customers and methodology credibility (DNDC and similar biogeochemical models).
- CIBO Technologies: CIBO Technologies provides a platform for modeling agricultural carbon outcomes, enrolling farmers in carbon programs, and connecting to corporate buyers. It is a direct peer to Carbon Yield, focused on the same regenerative-agriculture-to-credits workflow with a technology-led, simulation-based approach to MRV.
- Soil and Water Outcomes Fund: The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund pays farmers per-acre incentives to adopt regenerative practices and sells verified carbon and water-quality credits to corporate buyers. It is a direct peer in farmer-facing regenerative agriculture program administration, MRV, and corporate credit sales.
Others
- South Pole: South Pole is a large climate solutions provider that develops, verifies, and sells carbon credits, including agricultural and land-based projects, and advises corporates on carbon strategy. It is a broader climate intermediary that overlaps with Carbon Yield on the corporate advisory and carbon credit intermediation side, though its portfolio is much wider than agricultural carbon.
Broad incumbents
- Indigo Ag: Indigo Ag is one of the largest and best-capitalized players in agricultural carbon markets, operating the Indigo Carbon program that pays farmers for sequestering carbon and the SourceTrust marketplace. It is a broad incumbent with substantially greater scale, headcount, and institutional funding than Carbon Yield, but overlaps directly on agricultural carbon credit origination, MRV, and corporate Scope 3 program design.
- Bayer ForGround (Climate FieldView): Bayer's ForGround platform is a large ag-carbon and sustainability program that connects farmers to carbon credit buyers and corporate offtakers across row crops and livestock. It is a broad incumbent serving the same farmer and corporate Scope 3 buyer segments as Carbon Yield, with the resources of a global ag-input giant behind it.
Emerging players
- Agreena: Agreena runs a European-focused agricultural carbon program, issuing verified soil carbon certificates from regenerative practices and selling to corporates. It is an emerging player with a similar carbon credit origination and farmer intermediation model to Carbon Yield, primarily operating in Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carbon Yield social profiles
Digital presenceCarbon Yield financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carbon Yield leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Carbon Yield funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carbon Yield M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carbon Yield
What does Carbon Yield do?
Carbon Yield designs, administers, and advises on agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon programs for corporations, governments, and cooperatives. The company quantifies and models GHG emissions and removals, validates climate-smart practices, and connects farmers and ranchers to corporate buyers through premium carbon credit agreements and conservation programs.
Is Carbon Yield a public or private company?
Carbon Yield is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Carbon Yield founded?
Carbon Yield was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Carbon Yield based?
Carbon Yield is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Carbon Yield make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Carbon Credit Revenue Sharing is the primary driver. The others are program Design and Administration Services and strategic Advisory Services.
Who are Carbon Yield's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nori, Regrow Ag, CIBO Technologies and Soil and Water Outcomes Fund. South Pole is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Indigo Ag and Bayer ForGround (Climate FieldView). Agreena is listed as an emerging player.
Does Carbon Yield have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carbon Yield.
What industry is Carbon Yield in?
Carbon Yield's product category is Agricultural Carbon Market Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABABAD, Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems, with a secondary code of EUABACAH, Soil & Biomass Carbon Measurement (Soil Sampling, Forest Inventory, Blue Carbon). Its NAICS code is 1153 and its SIC code is 800.