SOUTH AFRICAN FARMERS CAN EARN INCOME FROM VERIFIED CARBON CREDITS THROUGH UPL CORP’S SMART CLIMATE AG PROGRAMME
- UPL Corp launched Smart Climate Ag to help South African farmers maintain high levels of productivity while adopting regenerative, bio-based farming methods that helps make the sector as environmentally sustainable as possible.
- Farmers can unlock a new income stream through verified carbon credits, with 26,102 credits issued across 2,884 hectares in the pilot phase.
- Smart Climate Ag supports UPL’s goal to remove one billion tonnes of CO₂ by 2040.
Sandton, South Africa, November 19, 2025 - UPL Corporation Ltd. (UPL Corp), a global provider of holistic and sustainable agricultural solutions, today announced the launch of Smart Climate Ag, a climate-positive farming programme designed for South African commercial row-crop farmers. The programme encourages the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices alongside sustainable and biological-based agricultural inputs, helping farmers transition toward more sustainable production systems without comprising yields.
South African farmers now have the opportunity to keep their farms commercially productive while adopting sustainable land management practices that improve soil health, boost resilience to climate change, and unlock a new income stream.
Developed in partnership with carbon project developer Orizon Agriculture and certified by the independent carbon standard Verra, Smart Climate Ag supports farmers in adopting practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, reduction of synthetic fertiliser applications, and the use of UPL’s NPP biosolutions aimed to improve soil health.
The recently completed CarbonSmart pilot demonstrated that regenerative practices can help improve soil health by increasing the amount of carbon stored in soils – a key factor for soil fertility, water retention, and resilience to climate stress. This increase in soil carbon is scientifically measured and independently verified, enabling the generation of carbon credits. that can be sold on the voluntary carbon market. Farmers receive the revenue from all credits issued.
The pilot resulted in the issuance of 26,102 verified carbon credits to the three participating farmers, based on measurable increases in soil organic carbon and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across 2,884 hectares of maize cropland.
“We didn’t inherit the land we farm on from our forefathers, we are borrowing it from our children. And I was taught to return something I borrowed in a better condition than it was before,” Callie Meintjes, a maize farmer from the Free State who took part in the CarbonSmart pilot programme. “It’s about the fact that we should be sustainable producers. We must start thinking differently and broaden our perspective.”
UPL Corp plans to scale Smart Climate Ag to more crops, regions, and farmers, working in partnership with organisations across the food value chain. The initiative is a cornerstone of UPL’s Gigaton Carbon Goal, which aims to remove one billion tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere by 2040.
“The Smart Climate Ag programme is about enabling farmers to build resilience. By helping them restore carbon to their soils, we strengthen soil health while ensuring farms remain commercially productive. The additional carbon revenue provides the farmers we serve with financial security as they adapt to a changing climate,” said Marcel Dreyer, UPL Corp’s Regional Head for Africa.
ENDS
For media enquiries:
Desere Ray (Marketing and Communications Manager – AFRICA)
desere.ray@upl-ltd.com
Gerhard Mulder
gerhard@resolvecommunications.co.za
083 305 9361
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About UPL Corp
UPL Corporation Ltd. (UPL Corp) is a leading global crop protection and biological solutions company defining the future through sustainable agriculture and a grower-first mindset. With a robust portfolio of holistic solutions, UPL Corp aims to create shared growth and prosperity for farming communities, agriculture, and our planet. As the largest of UPL Group’s pureplay platforms,
UPL Corp is a leader in fostering collaboration through OpenAg® to develop advanced technologies for crop health and productivity. To learn more about UPL Corp, please visit uplcorp.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook.
About UPL Group
UPL Ltd. (NSE: UPL, BSE: 512070, LSE GDR: UPLL) is a global provider of sustainable agricultural products and solutions that cover the entire agrifood value chain. With annual revenue exceeding $6bn, the company is one of the largest agriculture companies worldwide, serving growers in more than 130 countries. UPL Group consists of four pure-play platforms that include UPL Corporation Ltd. (UPL Corp); UPL Sustainable Agri Solutions (SAS); Advanta Enterprises Ltd.; and UPL Specialty Chemicals Ltd. (USCL). Together, these platforms are dedicated to Reimagining Sustainability and driving progress in our food system through our innovative OpenAg® approach. To learn more about UPL, please visit upl-ltd.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.
