Active 21 October 2025
Outcome Label
Eligibility
Reductions and Removals
14. Agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU)
This methodology quantifies the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and soil organic carbon (SOC) removals resulting from the adoption of improved agricultural land management (ALM) practices. Such practices include, but are not limited to, reduced tillage and improvements in fertilizer application, biomass residue and water management, cash and cover crop planting and harvesting practices, and grazing practices.
- VM0042, v2.1 remains active. Both VM0042, v2.2 and VM0042, v2.1 are active methodologies available for use.
- VM0042, v2.1 is available in digital format on the Verra Project Hub and can be accessed through the Digital Project Submission Tool. Proponents are encouraged to use the digital versions of methodologies as they become available. Please email hubsupport@verra.org for support or to request access to the Verra Project Hub.
- On October 10 2025, Verra released Corrections and Clarifications to VM0042, v2.1 (PDF). All projects using VM0042, v2.1 must apply these corrections and clarifications.
- Projects seeking to complete registration under VM0042, v2.0 must have requested listing on the Verra Registry before December 11, 2024, and complete validation by March 11, 2026.
Additional Resources
Proposed Revisions
Development History
VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.2
Status: Active since October 21, 2025
Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Reductions and Removals
Summary of Changes :
- Added justification for determining the baseline scenario as a continuation of pre-project practices
- Modifications to the procedures to demonstrate additionality in alignment with VT0008
- Clarifications on how to select the most conservative and disaggregated emission factors
- Replacement of section 8.4.3 on leakage from productivity declines with procedures from VMD0054
- Recommendations for baseline reassessment every five years, wherever data becomes available or regional practices change
- Incorporation of Corrections and Clarifications regarding the allowed use of VT0014
Tracked Changes Document: VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.2 – Greenlined (PDF)
Developer: Verra
Dates of Public Consultation: N/A
VVB Assessment Report(s): N/A
Announcement(s): Reminder: Depth Requirements for Using Soil Carbon Data in VM0042 Projects
VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.1 (PDF)
Status: Active since September 11, 2024
Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Reductions and Removals
Summary of Changes:
- Separation of GHG emission reductions and carbon dioxide removals under Section 8
- Title updated to VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management
- Incorporation of the Corrections and Clarifications published on 25 January 2024
Developer: Verra
Dates of Public Consultation: April 5, 2024 to May 6, 2024.
Draft Shared During Public Consultation: VM0042, v2.1 Draft Methodology (PDF)
Summary of Public Consultation: Summary of Public Comments for VM0042, v2.1 (PDF)
VVB Assessment Report(s): N/A – minor revision
Correction and/or Clarification: Corrections and Clarifications to VM0042, v2.1 (PDF)
Announcement(s): Consultation: Proposed Minor Revision to IALM Methodology, Verra Releases Revised IALM Methodology (VM0042), Corrections and Clarifications: VM0032, VM0042, VT0014
VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.0 (PDF)
Status: Active since May 30, 2023 to September 11, 2024
Grace Period:
- Projects seeking to complete registration under VM0042, v2.0 must have requested listing on the Verra Registry before December 11, 2024, and complete validation by March 11, 2026.
Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Not Eligible
Summary of Changes:
- Introduction of a baseline control sites option to allow for direct SOC measurement under Quantification Approach 2.
- Update of Section 8.6 on uncertainty assessment to clarify statistical procedures and align with the VCS Methodology Requirements.
- Introduction of guidance on the use of proximal sensing technologies to estimate SOC content in Appendix 4.
- Introduction of an applicability condition allowing for one-time land conversion from grassland to cropland or vice versa to restore degraded lands in Section 4 and Appendix 2.
- Introduction of a requirement and procedures to account for emissions associated with use of agricultural limestone in Section 8.2.4.
- Introduction of a requirement to account for leakage from diversion of biomass residues used for energy applications in the baseline scenario in Section 8.4.4.
General improvements, errata and clarifications.
Developer(s): The revisions were coordinated by Verra in-house experts with technical input from TerraCarbon LLC (external) and Viresco Solutions (external) (on uncertainty assessment) as well as a range of expert stakeholders.
Dates of Public Consultation: December 23, 2021 to February 5, 2022
Summary of Public Consultation: Summary of Public Consultation for VM0042, v2.0 (PDF)
VVB Assessment Report(s): VVB Assessment Report for VM0042, v2.0 (PDF)
Corrections and Clarifications: Corrections and Clarifications to VM0042, v2.0 (PDF), Corrections and Clarifications to VM0042, v2.0 – Greenlined (PDF)
VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v1.0 (PDF)
Status: Active from October 19, 2020 to May 29, 2023
Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Not Eligible
Developer(s): Indigo Ag Inc. (external), TerraCarbon LLC (external)
Dates of Public Consultation: June 5, 2020 to July 5, 2020
Summary of Public Consultation: VM0042, v1.0 and VMD0053, v1.0 Summary of Public Consultation (PDF)
VVB Assessment Report(s): VVB Assessment Report for VM0042, v1.0 and VMD0053, v1.0 (PDF)
Clarification(s): Clarifications to VM0042, v1.0 (PDF)
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.