Cultivo Grasslands Carbon Program

Cultivo pays ranchers for soil carbon sequestered through improved grazing on working US grasslands, combining carbon credit payments with upfront project capital. Cultivo's core focus is bringing capital to projects: it covers 100% of upfront project costs, such as fencing and water infrastructure, in addition to the carbon credit payments, and holds capital for maintenance costs over the life of the project.

Cultivo acquired Kateri, a US grasslands carbon developer, effective December 2025, folding Kateri's rancher relationships, soil carbon modeling, and virtual-fencing capabilities into its program. The combined platform reports more than 650,000 acres of US grasslands signed, with the potential to remove over 9 million tonnes of CO2e over 30 years.

Cultivo reported paying $10.3 million to 138 ranchers across 1.25 million acres in 19 states in 2024. The company takes a holistic approach that measures water retention and biodiversity uplift alongside carbon, and works with ranchers on adaptive multi-paddock and high-density short-duration grazing.

Cultivo requires additionality but describes taking a flexible, tailored approach: there is generally room for additional improvements even on ranches with very good stewardship. Cultivo uses remote-sensing technology to assess the land in detail and identify opportunities to build on current practices.

• Works with a wide variety of ranch sizes; no published minimum acreage.

• US grasslands focus, including the Northern Great Plains through the former Kateri program.

• Ranchers commit to improved grazing practices such as adaptive multi-paddock grazing or high-density short-duration grazing.

Contract term. Cultivo states contracts are typically 20 to 30 years, with optional 10-year renewals after that. The aim is to design the project and ongoing resources so the landowner wants to continue long term.

How payment works. There is no fixed carbon payment structure; Cultivo told a Western Sustainability Exchange rancher panel in April 2025 that it aims for $5 to $10 per acre annually, varying with practices and environment, and provides a custom estimate based on location, practices, and climate. Upfront infrastructure funding and maintenance capital are separate from the carbon payment.

Kateri legacy terms. Before the December 2025 acquisition, Kateri's program paid ranchers 70% of profit (75% for Audubon-certified ranches) and covered all program costs including soil samples, virtual fencing, GPS tags, and a ranch advisor, with average payments of $5 to $10 per acre per year and no cap on the upside. Whether these terms continue unchanged under Cultivo is not published.

Start with Cultivo's natural capital assessment (the Get Started flow on cultivo.land), which estimates the land's revenue potential and optimal regeneration strategies. From there Cultivo works with the landowner on project design, secures financing, and manages measurement, verification, and credit sales.

Enquiries can go to Luke Tercek (luke.tercek@cultivo.land) or Ben Veres, Senior Director of Land Partnerships, North America, who joined Cultivo through the Kateri acquisition.

• Five Carbon Companies Answer Ranchers' Top Questions (3.39 MB) — WSE rancher panel featuring Cultivo and Kateri