TL;DR:
- Israeli agrotech firm partners with American afforestation company for carbon trading market.
- SeeTree measures carbon stored in trees across 130,000 acres of the Mississippi delta.
- SeeTree combines drone data, ground information, and machine learning for detailed tree profiles.
- SeeTree operates in multiple countries and plans to expand further.
- GreenTrees plant over 60 million trees and issues carbon credits.
- The voluntary carbon offset market lacks regulation and faces challenges.
- Academic analysis shows many carbon offset projects may not effectively reduce emissions.
- SeeTree offers accurate, transparent, and efficient carbon measurement methods.
- SeeTree aims for annual data collection and verification with American Carbon Registry.
- SeeTree expands data collection to identify risks and maximize tree health.
- SeeTree has over 100 employees and notable investors, including Netafim and Kubota Tractor Corporation.
Main AI News:
An Israeli agrotech firm specializing in monitoring tree health across vast plantations has partnered with an American afforestation company to quantify the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by its trees for the global carbon trading market. SeeTree, based in Tel Aviv, recently completed its inaugural carbon measurement cycle, evaluating the carbon stored within trees and vegetation across 130,000 acres of the Mississippi delta, a project undertaken in collaboration with GreenTrees.
In a notable event on Arbor Day, SeeTree’s co-founder and CEO, Israel Talpaz, joined forces with GreenTrees LLC to ring the opening bell at the prestigious New York Stock Exchange. SeeTree utilizes a combination of data gathered from drones or aircraft-mounted cameras and information provided by farmers on the ground. This information is then processed using machine learning techniques to generate comprehensive digital profiles for each tree within a plantation.
SeeTree’s operations extend beyond the borders of Israel, spanning countries such as Brazil, Mexico, the United States, and South Africa. Talpaz, who boasts 23 years of experience in Israeli intelligence, expressed plans to expand the company’s reach into Europe and the Far East, a move that aligns with their ambitious growth strategy, as revealed to The Times of Israel.
Approximately 18 months ago, GreenTrees approached SeeTree with the objective of employing their innovative technology to measure the carbon sequestered by the newly established forests under their stewardship. GreenTrees, together with collaborating landowners, has successfully planted over 60 million trees, an impressive feat highlighted on their official website. Leveraging the carbon absorbed during photosynthesis, GreenTrees issues carbon credits within the voluntary carbon trading market.
This trading mechanism enables various emitters of global warming gases, including governments, businesses, and individuals, to offset their emissions by investing in projects that offer alternatives to carbon emissions, such as renewable energy, or aid in their reduction and storage, as exemplified by afforestation initiatives. These investments are duly recognized through the issuance of carbon credits.
Despite the potential benefits, it is crucial to acknowledge that the voluntary carbon offset market currently lacks extensive regulation and is fraught with challenges.
Academic analysis has revealed concerning findings, indicating that a significant portion of projects offering carbon offsets may not effectively reduce emissions. The study suggests that anywhere from a third to three-quarters of these projects fail to make a genuine impact, as they would have been implemented regardless of the carbon payments.
This revelation follows a comprehensive nine-month investigation conducted by The Guardian, German weekly Die Zeit, and SourceMaterial, a non-profit investigative journalism organization. The investigation specifically highlighted investments made by industry giants like Shell and Disney in carbon-intensive rainforests, facilitated by Verra, one of the world’s most esteemed certifiers. These investments were found to be largely ineffective.
During discussions with GreenTrees, Talpaz emphasized the company’s requirements: accuracy, transparency for all stakeholders, and speed. He explained the conventional method of calculating carbon, which involves sending a forester equipped with a tape measure and rangefinder to measure the trunk diameter and height of trees within a small plot. These findings are then combined with satellite data to estimate results for larger areas. Talpaz highlighted the drawbacks of this approach, citing its inaccuracy, lack of transparency, and time-consuming nature.
In contrast, SeeTree offers a revolutionary solution, providing high-resolution, “wall-to-wall” measurements. Through their advanced technology, they measure a comprehensive set of features related to trees, vegetation, and the ground, focusing on 25 by 25-meter patches (625 square meters or 6,730 square feet) and examining every single patch. They invest substantial effort in calibration to ensure accuracy, and their digital platform allows stakeholders to view the details of every patch. Impressively, SeeTree has achieved a remarkable 97 percent accuracy rate.
SeeTree plans to collect data and calculate carbon measurements annually. Currently, the company is undergoing the verification process with the American Carbon Registry. Talpaz anticipates that the traditional manual approval for their methodology will be granted within the next few months. Additionally, he revealed that the American Carbon Registry is eager to embrace digital solutions and is likely to transition to this approach within the coming year.
Beyond carbon measurements, SeeTree is expanding its data collection efforts to identify risks such as fire and floods that could jeopardize tree health and impede carbon absorption. Their objective is to ensure maximum productivity and minimize potential hindrances, as weeds, for example, can contribute to fires.
With a workforce of over 100 employees, SeeTree operates primarily from Tel Aviv, where management and research and development activities are centered. Notable investors in the company include Netafim, an Israeli drip irrigation company, Kubota Tractor Corporation from Japan, the International Finance Corporation (the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group), Hanaco Ventures (a venture capital fund), and Uri Levine, co-founder of the renowned traffic and navigation application Waze.
Conlcusion:
The partnership between the Israeli agrotech firm SeeTree and the American afforestation company represents a significant development in the carbon trading market. By leveraging advanced technology and innovative measurement methods, SeeTree aims to provide accurate and transparent data on carbon storage in trees, addressing the limitations of traditional approaches. This has the potential to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the voluntary carbon offset market by offering stakeholders a more reliable and comprehensive solution for quantifying and trading carbon credits.
However, the market still faces challenges, as highlighted by the academic analysis indicating a considerable number of carbon offset projects may not effectively reduce emissions. Regulatory measures and industry standards are needed to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of carbon offset initiatives. Overall, the collaboration between SeeTree and GreenTrees, along with their ambitious expansion plans, signifies the growing importance of technology-driven solutions in driving sustainable practices and facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy.
