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Adapting MRV for Tropical Agriculture: Challenges, Innovations and the Path Forward

As the urgency of climate action accelerates, MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) systems have become essential for tracking emissions and environmental outcomes across agriculture. However, models developed in North America and Europe often fail to account for the unique conditions of tropical agriculture across South America, with its vastly different ecosystems, legal frameworks and data infrastructure. Ahead of discussions at the World Agri-Tech South America Summit in São Paulo (June 24-25), regional agtech leaders are working with local experts and organizations to re-engineer MRV models that are scientifically robust while also grounded in the realities of tropical farming systems.

Tropical Conditions Need Tailored Approaches

Juliana Lopes, Technical Director of Nature and Society at CEBDS, notes that existing MRV models often fall short: "North American and European MRV models often struggle when applied to Brazilian and South American agriculture because they weren't designed for our tropical conditions." "The Cerrado and Amazon biomes, which cover more than 70% of Brazil's land area, have unique ecological characteristics requiring specialized approaches to carbon sequestration measurement."

More Data Needed

Systemic limitations need to be addressed as the “lack of traceability and transparency, lack of farmers’ data, lack of incentives to the farm and different production models in different countries and climate” all hamper the successful deployment of MRV in South America. Daniele Cesano, Founder & CEO of LandPrint gives a legal perspective - "For regulatory compliance, South American countries, particularly Brazil, require the use of public, country-specific databases. MRV systems from North America and Europe often rely on international datasets and voluntary frameworks like TNFD, which are not aligned with local legal and institutional requirements."

Investment Needed to Scale MRV

Scaling MRV in the tropics requires more than just technical refinement – it will demand significant investment. Karla Canavan, Vice President of Commodity Trade and Regulation at WWF flags that financial constraints such as “lack of bank finance, and trade finance concentration” limit adoption and scalability, especially among smallholders. Daniele Cesano agrees, insisting that to move forward, scalable MRV in the tropics must be “georeferenced, cost-efficient, and built for local context”, offering “practical solutions managed in collaboration with producers, industry experts and financial institutions”.

Collaborative Action for Soil Carbon Sequestration

Improving emissions reduction strategies and enhancing knowledge of tropical soil carbon sequestration requires industry-wide collaboration. “At CEBDS, we're working with various stakeholders through initiatives like the Landscape Accelerator Brazil (LAB), which brings together financial institutions, supply chain actors, companies, producers and civil society to accelerate regenerative transformation of Brazilian landscapes,” says Juliana Lopes. With its focus on the Cerrado and Amazon regions, LAB is targeting up to 50 million hectares for regenerative agriculture deployment. The initiative is helping to develop standardized metrics for recognizing regenerative practices. “By building consensus around soil health metrics like carbon organic content, we're enhancing understanding of tropical soil's unique capacity to sequester carbon,” says Lopes. CEBDS’s collaborative workshops and research efforts aim to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and field-level action, aligning all stakeholders on shared metrics and methods.

Bringing MRV to the Farmer

LandPrint’s approach aims to make MRV accessible, working with producers and input providers to embed actionable data and measurable outcomes into daily operations. “Our platform connects three layers: sustainable practices, natural capital metrics (carbon, soil health, water, biodiversity), and economic outcomes,” explains Daniele Cesano. “We treat natural capital as undervalued production infrastructure.” By integrating georeferenced tools, remote sensing and farmer-reported data via familiar channels like WhatsApp and Telegram, LandPrint creates a practical feedback loop. “This helps optimize input use, enhance soil carbon, and reduce emissions while building reliable data for ecosystem service monetization,” he emphasizes.

Measuring Carbon Sequestration is Still Work in Progress

Karla Canavan cautions to manage expectations. “When it comes to precise measurements, soil carbon sequestration is still a long shot,” she says. The WWF is emphasizing the need to prioritize grounded practical, economically sound improvements that producers can implement now, laying the groundwork for more precise and scalable carbon strategies as tools and data evolve.

Empowering Farmers

So, what real world practices can be implemented to best equip farmers, particularly smallholders, with the skills and tools necessary to engage in MRV processes? How can they benefit from carbon credits or other ecosystem service payments? “For smallholders to benefit from ecosystem service payments, we need simplified, accessible MRV systems,” says Juliana Lopes of CEBDS. She explains how CEBDS advocates for targeted investment in technical assistance programs tailored to small producers, focusing on “practical training that demonstrates both environmental benefits and economic improvements through regenerative practices.” Equally important is building social capital. “Establishing producer networks where knowledge can be shared peer-to-peer has proven highly effective for building capacity and confidence among smallholders,” she adds.

Money, Money, Money

MRV must also connect directly to financial returns. Lopes emphasises the importance of cost-effective technologies, particularly remote sensing and streamlined field protocols that avoid overburdening smallholders. She insists that “Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) frameworks need further development, as they provide important financial incentives for sustainable practices.” Daniele Cesano agrees, noting crucially that LandPrint “links MRV outputs to financial mechanisms, such as carbon credits, premiums, or blended finance, so farmers see real value from their efforts”, giving them an active and results-driven role in the process.

Technology, Trust and Long-Term Change

To boost adoption, LandPrint is actively connecting farmers. The company is strengthening regional infrastructure through training local cooperatives and technical networks, supported by an AI tool that helps interpret field data and guide management decisions. Cesano explains: “We’re building mobile-first, low-bandwidth tools that allow farmers to record practices and receive insights via WhatsApp, embedding MRV into their routine.” Even with all the right tools, transformation will not be immediate. WWF’s Karla Canavan cautions against rushing implementation. “The issue is still adoption and scalability,” she says. “Intensification is definitely not the sustainable route. Solutions need to be diversified and taken as a journey. Transformation takes time.” The most successful strategies will be those that accept complexity, prioritize local adaptation, and foster long-term commitment rather than chasing quick wins with limited durability.

Conclusion: Building MRV for the Tropics, From the Ground Up

Creating effective MRV systems for tropical agriculture is as much about people and policy as it is about pixels and protocols. From soil carbon measurement to scalable mobile apps, from legal alignment to social inclusion, adapting MRV for the tropics demands a reimagined, localized approach. With collaborative frameworks like LAB, technology platforms like LandPrint, and field-focused efforts from organizations like WWF and CEBDS, a new model is emerging - one that works with tropical producers, not around them. Join future-focused agtech leaders, innovators and investors at the World Agri-Tech South America Summit on June 24-25 at the Hotel Unique in Sao Paulo, for heavyweight discussions, insights and partnerships to make tropical agriculture the cornerstone of global climate resilience. View the full programme to see who’s speaking, and book now to join them in Sao Paulo.