Groundwork BioAg and Beck’s Hybrids launch Rootella carbon for US farmers

Groundwork BioAg, an Israeli agricultural biotechnology company, has partnered with Beck’s Hybrids to introduce Rootella Carbon, a program that combines the use of mycorrhizal inoculants with carbon insetting opportunities for US farmers. The initiative, announced September 10, is being positioned as the first commercial deployment of durable carbon removal in American row-crop agriculture.

Through Beck’s Grain Attribute program, participating growers can apply Rootella fungi to boost nutrient uptake, enhance soil health, and sequester long-lived carbon in their fields. Farmers who opt in will gain access to a carbon-based revenue stream, driven in part by international grain buyers such as Suntory seeking lower-carbon sourcing options.

“This partnership offers a new commercial opportunity for American growers by tapping into a revenue stream based on carbon insetting,” said Dan Grotsky, Groundwork BioAg’s chief growth officer.

As of the 2025 season, a limited group of Beck’s growers has already begun applying the inoculants, with broader availability planned in the coming years. Beck’s said the program fits within its broader effort to link farmers to premium markets, alongside other attributes such as grain quality or sustainability standards.

Mycorrhizal inoculants are already in use on more than 5.5 million acres worldwide, including in the United States, Brazil, India, and China. The fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, which can reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, improve yields, and store carbon in soils for decades. Groundwork BioAg markets these products under the Rootella brand, calling them the first scalable, biological carbon removal solution in agriculture.

Demand for the Rootella Carbon program has already outpaced supply, with the initial cohort of US farmers selling out ahead of schedule. A waiting list is now in place for future enrollment. The program’s carbon credits are verified under protocols overseen by Deloitte’s sustainability team to ensure durability and transparency.

“By working with Beck’s, we are able to introduce Rootella Carbon to US farmers in a way that respects grower choice,” said Thad England, director of US strategic accounts at Groundwork BioAg. “This partnership sets an example of how biological innovation and market access can align to give farmers more options for productivity and profitability.”