SARA – South American Regenerative Agriculture Programme

Expected impact

SARA contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, delivering measurable environmental and social outcomes.

Project milestones

• Registered under Verra VCS – May 2025
• Monitoring Period 1 (Oct ‘19 – June ’23) 220.000 VCUs – Feb 2026 

Expected Issuance Schedule

• Monitoring Period 2 (July ‘23 – August ’24) – Q4 2026: 220.000 VCUs
• Monitoring Period 3 (Sept ’24 – March ’26) – Q3 2027: 300.000 VCUs
• Monitoring Period 4 (April ’26 – March ’27) – Q1 2028: 400.000 VCUs

SARA is a market‑leading regenerative agriculture programme delivering verified, durable carbon removals at scale. It is one of only eight programmes globally to have achieved issuance under Verra’s VM0042 methodology, one of the most rigorous standards for soil carbon and grassland restoration. Developed by Anthesis Group and Ruuts, recognised leaders in nature‑based solutions, SARA combines technical credibility with a clear pathway to scale. The programme holds a BBB rating from BeZero, providing additional third‑party confidence for corporate buyers.

SARA is currently the largest programme registered and issued under VM0042 across Argentina, Paraguay and Chile. It works with farmers to restore degraded rangelands through regenerative land management practices that rebuild soil carbon while improving biodiversity, water retention and long‑term farm resilience. Climate impact is embedded in real working landscapes and livelihoods, rather than short‑term offsetting interventions.

The programme currently supports 130+ farms across approximately 150,000 hectares of rangeland, with expansion underway toward a target of 500,000 hectares. Delivery is supported by experienced local partners Ovis 21, De Raiz and Efecto Manada, and underpinned by robust monitoring, reporting and verification aligned with leading global standards.

SARA’s first verified monitoring period (2019–2023) has resulted in the issuance of more than 200,000 carbon removal credits, representing over 200,000 tonnes of CO₂e removed from the atmosphere. Issuance volumes are expected to grow steadily, with more than one million tonnes of CO₂e removals per year forecast from 2028 onwards, subject to continued verification and programme expansion.

Why SARA for corporates

• High integrity, verified removals issued under Verra VM0042, supported by independent verification and a BeZero BBB rating.
• Credible supply at scale from one of the largest VM0042 programmes globally, with a clear growth trajectory and increasing annual issuance. 
• Alignment with net‑zero strategies through durable carbon removals suitable for beyond‑value‑chain mitigation and long‑term climate commitments. 
• Nature‑positive and people‑positive outcomes, delivering measurable benefits for soil health, biodiversity, water resilience and farmer livelihoods. 

Anthesis – leading in carbon programme development

Anthesis brings world‑class expertise across science‑based advisory, the development of high‑quality carbon removal projects, market‑leading digital solutions, and purpose‑led strategy and communications. This integrated capability uniquely positions Anthesis to manage risk, ensure integrity, and unlock long‑term value for clients navigating complex net‑zero and sustainability transitions.

The issuance of SARA builds on Anthesis’ earlier success with AgriCarbon in South Africa, the first regenerative agriculture programme in Africa to issue carbon credits under Verra’s VM0042 methodology. Together, these initiatives form part of Anthesis’ growing global portfolio of Verra-registered nature-based carbon projects, spanning agriculture, grasslands and landscape restoration, and demonstrate a proven ability to deliver verified impact at scale.

Quality criteria

All Anthesis-supported carbon removal projects undergo independent verification to confirm permanent carbon storage and measurable environmental benefits. Projects must demonstrate alignment with UN SDGs 12, 13, and 15, promote soil and ecosystem health, and deliver robust climate and nature outcomes.

Through rigorous auditing, monitoring, and adherence to international standards, Anthesis ensures all projects provide credible, lasting impact for both climate and local communities.