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VM0051 Improved Management in Rice Production Systems, v1.1

rice field
Details
Status Active Since 14 July 2026
Sectoral Scope
15. Agriculture
Outcome Labels Reductions

This methodology applies to projects implementing improved water and crop management practices in flooded rice systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It replaces the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodology AMS-III.AU Methane emission reduction by adjusted water management practice in rice cultivation, which Verra inactivated in March 2023.

VM0051 Improved Management in Rice Production Systems, v1.1 (PDF)

Please Note

  • VM0051 v1.0 will be inactivated on August 1, 2027. See “Implications for VCS Projects” below for more details.

  • VM0051, v1.0 will be inactivated in the VCS Program on 1 August 2027.
  • Projects that request registration or crediting period renewal on or after 1 August 2027 must apply VM0051, v1.1.
  • Projects that use VM0051, v1.0 may submit the following types of requests until 31 July 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 update to VM0051, v1.1 during their crediting period using one of the following:
    • Procedure to Change Project Methodology through a Project Description Deviation for future monitoring periods, or
    • Methodology Change and Requantification Procedure for past and future monitoring periods and requantify the reductions from past verifications

ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCP) Label Eligibility

VM0051, v1.1, has been approved by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) as meeting the requirements of the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) Assessment Framework. Please note that to receive CCP labels for the credits they generate, projects using VM0051, v1.1, must meet certain conditions. A guidance document outlining Verra’s process for CCP labeling, the ICVCM CCP Label Guidance (PDF), is available on the VCS Rules and Requirements page.

Where the ICVCM has determined that additional CCP label criteria have to be met for a project using a CCP-approved methodology to receive CCP labels, these criteria are checked at the verification review by a validation/verification body (VVB) and Verra. Where Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) have been issued to projects using multiple methodologies, only VCUs from projects solely using CCP-approved methodologies are eligible for CCP labels.

Per the ICVCM decision (external), projects using VM0051, v1.1, also have to comply with the following additional criteria to be issued CCP-labeled VCUs:

  • Where Benchmark Analysis is applied using tool VT0008, v1.0, it must show that the economic performance of the mitigation activity increases decisively through carbon credit revenues; and carbon credit revenues raise the relevant financial indicator to or above the required financial benchmark.
  • Projects must apply a crediting period of 5 years, renewable twice.

VM0051 Improved Management in Paddy Rice Production Systems, v1.1

Status: Active since 14 July 2026
Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Reductions
Summary of Changes:

  • Updated to follow 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 in Section 9.3.1 to clarify that the project monitoring plan must also consider recommendations from the expert to ensure implementation of safeguards to prevent SOC losses
  • Introduction of guidance to clarify that project-specific expert recommendations for SOC safeguards and project activities falls within the expert’s assessment mandate, as part of broader agronomic evaluation and suitability to specific project conditions (Section 9.3.3).
  • 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

Tracked Changes Document: VM0051 Improved Management in Rice Production Systems, v1.1 – Tracked Changes (PDF)
Developer(s): Verra
Dates of Public Consultation: N/A
Draft Shared During Public Consultation: N/A
Summary of Public Consultation: N/A
Independent Expert Reports: N/A
Announcement(s): Verra Publishes Minor Revision to Rice Methodology (VM0051)

VM0051 Improved Management in Paddy Rice Production Systems, v1.0 (PDF)

Status: Active from 27 February 2025 to 1 August 2027
Inactivation Date: 1 August 2027
Request Deadlines:
Projects that use VM0051, v1.0 may submit the following types of requests until 31 July 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.

Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Reductions
Developer(s): Verra and ATOA Carbon (external). Verra led the development process with the support of consultant ATOA Carbon and external reviewers.
Dates of Public Consultation: June 11, 2024, to July 12, 2024.
Draft Shared During Public Consultation: VM0051, v1.0 Draft Methodology (PDF)
Summary of Public Consultation: VM0051, v1.0 Summary of Public Consultation (PDF)
Expert Assessment Report(s): 1st Expert Assessment Report for VM0051, v1.0 (PDF) , 2nd Expert Assessment Report for VM0051, v1.0 (PDF), Limited Scope VVB Assessment Report for VM0051, v1.0 (PDF)
Announcement(s): RFP Announcement: VVB Assessment of New VCS Rice Methodology, Consultation Announcement: New VCS Rice Methodology
Resource(s): VM0051, v1.0 Webinar

Get in Touch

If you are a current or prospective project developer seeking support to start, advance, or manage a VM0051 project, please contact Verra’s expert team at secretariat@verra.org.

For all other inquiries, including general program support, partnership opportunities, or organizational engagement, please visit our Contact Us page to connect with the appropriate Verra team.

To support Verra’s work as a nonprofit and help scale high-integrity climate action, visit our Support Us page or contact our Development team at fundraising@verra.org.

This page and its content are subject to the Verra Website Terms and Conditions of Use and constitute “Website Materials” as therein defined. Use is permitted only for the establishment or operation of a project or the development of a methodology under a Verra certification program. All other uses are prohibited.

Details
Status Active Since 14 July 2026
Sectoral Scope
15. Agriculture
Outcome Labels Reductions
Related Modules and Tools
VMD0053 Model Calibration, Validation, and Uncertainty Guidance for the Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.1
VT0008 Additionality Assessment, v1.0