UNDO Carbon: A Spotlight on Enhanced Weathering
Fresh off their XPRIZE Carbon Removal win, UNDO is showing that scaling removals can benefit communities and boost local economies. Their approach—enhanced weathering (EW)—accelerates one of Earth’s oldest carbon sinks by spreading mineral-rich rock on farmland, permanently removing CO₂ from the atmosphere while enriching soils and supporting farmers.
As a member of the Carbon Business Council, UNDO exemplifies the innovation the carbon removal field needs to thrive. In this Q&A, UNDO’s CEO & Founder Jim Mann reflects on the recent win, shares how they’re scaling responsibly, and offers a glimpse into how gigatonne-scale removal can boost local economies.
UNDO is one of many Carbon Business Council members leading the charge on carbon removal—and demonstrating what it looks like in practice. Explore the 100+ member companies driving economic growth around the world. The Carbon Business Council is publishing a content series spotlighting winners of XPRIZE Carbon Removal, a $100 million prize for removals companies.
Can you describe your carbon removal solution and what sets it apart?
Enhanced weathering accelerates a natural process where rocks naturally react with CO₂ and water to form stable carbonates that lock away carbon for over 100,000 years. By spreading crushed basalt and wollastonite onto farmland, we increase the reactive surface area, speeding up this carbon capture process. EW has the potential to remove up to 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Our approach not only sequesters carbon but also enriches soil health, boosts yields and supports farmers. It’s a scalable, nature-based solution backed by a tech platform capable of hosting thousands of EW projects globally.
What major breakthroughs or milestones did you achieve during the XPRIZE competition?
We were selected from 1,300 teams across 88 countries—a testament to our scientific rigour and scalable model. Our project in eastern Ontario, delivered with Canadian Wollastonite, removed 1,209 tonnes of CO₂ across 102 farms and enriched 5,670 hectares of land. Results were verified by two independent bodies and XPRIZE judges. We also modeled removal costs at the 1-megatonne scale and demonstrated a pathway to gigatonne-scale operations.
How will these funds help scale your solution or business model?
The award funds will be reinvested into cutting-edge scientific research and scaling our operations with new and existing partners. This financial support provides stability as we work towards long-term financing solutions for EW offtakes, enabling broader deployment and impact.
Do you have any examples or projections of how increased R&D will enable scale or reduce removal costs?
We're building comprehensive datasets at key Sentinel Sites to improve modeling and reduce costs. As we validate our Total Cation Accounting (TCA) methods, we’ll also be able to reduce the frequency of sampling for the rate of sequestration. In parallel, we’re testing innovative, non-destructive Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) approaches—like neutron scattering—with partners like UCL to make carbon measurement more scalable and cost-effective.
What does “scaling responsibly” look like in your corner of the carbon removal ecosystem?
As a founding signatory of the Reykjavik Protocol and partner of Carbon Removal Canada, we are committed to responsible scaling. Our vision is to empower thousands of project developers, mining companies, and farmers to participate in EW through a decentralized model grounded in science, trust, and technology.
Can you share any examples of working successfully with local communities around deployment?
UNDO maintains close relationships with farming communities, operational partners, scientists and the broader climate community who enable and benefit from our operations.
EW improves soil health, crop yields, and resilience—while potentially reducing the need for expensive inputs such as lime and chemical fertilizers. Communicating these co-benefits has been key to building trust and adoption in agricultural communities.
In March 2024, we published a peer-reviewed study with Newcastle University, which found basalt increased spring oat yields by an average of 15% and stabilized soil pH, while wollastonite led to a 12% yield increase in rice. Our mineral-rich rock is spread free of charge, underscoring EW’s potential to enhance livelihoods. During the competition, we enriched 9,250 hectares of soil across 189 farms.
Our regional managers lead community engagement, listening first, understanding local experiences, and fostering collaboration. Over 20,000 acres are now managed by Canadian farmers, with 2 million more acres identified within two hours of our partner mine that supplies the materials for our EW process.
How does — or could — your solution benefit other industries or local communities?
We provide mineral-rich rock to farmers at no cost, improving crop health and reducing lime use. By working with local contractors for spreading services, we reduce costs and create green jobs in rural communities.
What role do – or could – partnerships play in your success?
Partnerships are crucial for scaling our operations. Our operational model enables us to expand across borders, with technology built to handle high-quality operational data from global partners. In December 2023, we announced a new financing solution with CUR8, British Airways, and Standard Chartered to unlock upfront capital for carbon removal projects. We also signed a follow-on deal with Microsoft in 2024 to remove 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ and fund crucial scientific research in EW.
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