Mitti Labs Raises $9.5 Million for Water-Efficient Rice Cultivation
Climate tech startup Mitti Labs has secured $9.5 million in Series A funding led by Aramco Ventures. The capital injection will support the expansion of its operations in India and new projects in Southeast Asia.
Climate technology startup Mitti Labs announced it has raised $9.5 million in a Series A funding round, with Aramco Ventures leading the investment. The round also saw participation from Godrej Industries Group, Cisco Foundation, Volta Circle, and existing backer Lightspeed India.
The company, which operates in the US and India, plans to use the funds to expand its operations across India and establish new greenfield projects in the Philippines and Indonesia. A significant portion of the capital will be dedicated to expanding its Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) program in these regions.
AWD is a water-saving technique where farmers allow rice paddies to dry out periodically during the growing season instead of maintaining continuous flooding. Mitti Labs claims this method can reduce water usage by nearly 40% and methane emissions by over half when implemented correctly.
Founded in 2023, Mitti Labs leverages its GeoAI platform to verify water and methane savings, enabling the monetization of these reductions through carbon credits. The company aims to transform rice cultivation by promoting water-efficient practices that support smallholder farmers' livelihoods while lowering environmental impact.