With its trio of products, Groundwork BioAg is solving for two problems at once. First, its Rootella L, Rootella X and Rootella Forte mycorrhizal inoculants contribute to increased soil health with extending root systems, improving nutrient uptake and building crop resiliency. Second, application of Rootella qualifies farmers for participation in the Rootella Carbon program.
“Our highly concentrated formulations of viable mycorrhizal fungi demonstrate how a healthy fungal network below ground translates to a healthy soil environment and improved above ground yield,” says Andrew Duff, general manager of Groundwork BioAg in North America. “Everyone is looking for the limiting factors in every field, and a focus on biology-based inputs can help provide answers.”
Duff says to date, Groundwork Bio has worked in corn, soybeans, rice, barley, sugar cane, cotton and other row crops.
He says with strong visual results and test plot data, in some fields, farmers have been able to reduce applied phosphorus up to 25% and maintained yields.
The agronomic benefits led to Groundwork Bio establishing a carbon credit program in parallel with its product application. First launched in 2023, the company structured the program for farmers in any production system—no till all the way to full tillage. Soil carbon is measured initially and throughout the term to assess the carbon credits generated.
“All a farmer has to do is add Rootella,” Duff says. “The fact that it’s a measure and remeasure program, there’s no guessing as to how much carbon was sequestered, farmers like that. They see tangible results– through yield improvements by addressing soil health”
Groundwork Bio organizes the measurement and verification sampling process. A third party verifies and validates the results.
“Results are influenced by a number of factors including soil characteristics and land management practices, but we’re excited to see more growers enroll every year,” Duff says.
In 2023, 100,000 acres were enrolled, which grew to 150,000 acres in 2024. For 2025, the program has a waiting list.
“We have a revenue sharing model, the grower receives the majority of the net proceeds of the carbon sale,” he says.
The Rootella Carbon program requires a four-year commitment.
“In our business, we are working to help farmers bridge the gap and then scale with new solutions,” Duff says.
