Verra has released a revised version (v1.1) of VM0051 Improved Management for in Rice Production Systems in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. This constitutes a minor revision to VM0051, v1.0.

VM0051 applies to projects implementing improved water and crop management practices in flooded rice systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The revisions are intended to clarify methodology requirements, align the methodology with current VCS Program rules and requirements following the launch of version 5, and refine guidance for project area stratification and quantification procedures.

VM0051, v1.1 includes the following changes:

  • Updates to align with the VCS Methodology Template, v5.0
  • Updated references to VCS Version 5
  • Updated sectoral scope from 14: AFOLU to 15: Agriculture
  • Updated requirement for baseline reassessment every five years or at project crediting renewal
  • Introduction of guidance to clarify that the project monitoring plan must also consider recommendations from the expert to ensure implementation of safeguards to prevent soil organic carbon (SOC) losses
  • Introduction of guidance to clarify that project-specific expert recommendations for SOC safeguards and project activities fall within the expert’s assessment mandate, as part of broader agronomic evaluation and suitability to specific project conditions
  • Introduction of guidance to consider parameters listed in Table 4 (Appendix 1) as optional while identifying cultivation patterns for stratification of the project area
  • General editorial improvements and clarifications

ICVCM Assessment

VM0051, v1.1 was developed to align with the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) established by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). The methodology has been submitted for assessment under ICVCM.

Implications for VCS Projects

  • VM0051, v1.0 will be inactivated in the VCS Program on August 1, 2027.
  • Projects that request registration or crediting period renewal on or after August 1, 2027, must apply VM0051, v1.1.
  • Projects that use VM0051, v1.0 may submit the following types of requests until July 31, 2027:
    • Registration requests
    • Crediting period renewal requests
    • Verification approval requests where the verification includes a methodology change through a project description deviation
    • Requantification requests
  • Projects that meet the submission deadlines above may continue to apply VM0051, v1.0 for the remainder of their crediting period. These projects must update to an active version of VM0051 at their next crediting period renewal.
  • Registered projects using VM0051, v1.0 may apply one of the following:
    • Procedure to Change Project Methodology through a Project Description Deviation to align with VM0051, v1.1 for future monitoring periods
    • Methodology Change and Requantification Procedure to align with VM0051, v1.1 for past and future monitoring periods and requantify the reductions from past verifications
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