ESG Today writes that the carbon credits will be generated through the Lake Victoria Watershed Agroforestry Project, initiated by Catona Climate in Kenya. Experts at Catona aim to involve some 15,000 farmers in sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, helping them transform their mono-cropped lands into efficient carbon sinks with better soil health.

Besides carbon removal, farmers will benefit from healthier and more productive yields, without using harmful fertilizers, as well as from more stable terrains in case of floodings. The prevention of deforestation and ecosystems protection is also among the objectives of the Lake Victoria Watershed Agroforestry Project.

Catona will also collaborate with experts at non-profit organization Trees for the Future, which are also focused on helping farmers take better care of the soil and contributing to the regeneration of ecosystems.

Rob Lee, Chief Carbon Officer at Catona Climate, said that "our job is to source, vet, design, finance, monitor and measure the projects that will allow companies like Microsoft to achieve their climate goals, so we can all look forward to a sustainable future."

Brian Marrs, Senior Director for Energy & Carbon Removal at Microsoft, added that "with organizations like Catona, we’re able to add agroforestry projects to our portfolio that not only remove carbon but also meaningfully support biodiversity and benefit local communities in the short and long term.”

Microsoft started a series of investments in long-term nature-based solutions to remove and store planet-heating emissions. One of these commitments is the partnership with nature-based soil carbon removal solutions startup Grassroots Carbon for the supply of high-quality soil carbon credits, generated from managing grasslands, which have a carbon capture lifespan of 30 years.

Officials at Grassroots Carbon explain that using soil-based carbon capture solutions has multiple advantages, besides just getting rid of CO2 emissions. They also help preserve the health of the soil, prevent erosion and improve water retention.