Mitsubishi Electric Develops Soil Carbon Monitoring Technology

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has developed a new technology designed to estimate soil organic carbon in farmland without the need for extensive soil sampling or laboratory testing, potentially reducing the cost and complexity of agricultural carbon monitoring.

The company said the system combines optical measurement techniques with advanced soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics models, including a root biomass model and a microbial decomposition model, to estimate carbon levels in agricultural soils more efficiently and accurately.

Soil organic carbon is increasingly viewed as an important tool in climate mitigation because farmland can act as a carbon sink by storing atmospheric carbon in soil systems. Higher SOC levels can also improve soil fertility, water retention and agricultural productivity.

Traditional SOC measurement methods typically rely on physical soil collection and chemical analysis, processes that are labour-intensive, time-consuming and expensive when applied at scale. Mitsubishi Electric’s approach aims to eliminate much of that burden by using optical sensing combined with predictive modelling of biological and chemical soil processes.

The technology is expected to support Japan’s expanding carbon reduction framework, including the country’s GX-ETS emissions trading system, which is scheduled to become fully operational by the fiscal year ending March 2027.

According to the company, improved SOC monitoring could help quantify agricultural carbon reductions more reliably, supporting both emissions accounting and incentives for sustainable farming practices.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation said the development aligns with Japan’s broader Green Transformation (GX) strategy and the country’s target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The company also highlighted the wider agricultural benefits of enhanced soil carbon management, including improved crop yields and greater resilience to changing environmental conditions.