A US$30 million carbon credit deal by tech giant Amazon with India’s Good Rice Alliance will boost carbon markets globally, according to experts, potentially showing agriculture – as well as industry – can be at the heart of emission reductions.

The organisation, primarily backed by Bayer and in collaboration with GenZero and Shell, is designed to transform emissions-heavy rice cultivation in India through scientific advances.

It helps thousands of smallholder farmers adopt climate-smart growing techniques that reduce water use and methane emissions from the vast rice crop.

Studies have shown that improved water management and better nutrient practices can cut methane emissions from rice fields by 30 to 50 percent.

With around 42 to 44 million hectares (108 million acres) under cultivation, India is the world’s top rice exporter and a major contributor to agricultural methane.

The agreement is expected to secure around 685,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, according to local media.