Agrology Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE)
Real-Time Monitoring of Net Carbon Flows to Optimize Ecosystem Regeneration and Soil Carbon Accrual
In agricultural systems, soil carbon is more like a battery than a storage tank. For a more complete picture of ecosystem health while building healthy soils, growers and land managers can monitor flows of carbon and assess soil carbon stocks via Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) of CO₂. NEE illuminates how the soil carbon battery is charged via photosynthesis, providing insight into the liquid carbon pathway, as well as the discharge of CO₂ via microbial metabolism of soil organic matter (soil respiration). NEE also illuminates, in real time, how weather, moisture and on-farm practices affect dynamic CO₂ flows in and out of the soil.
The Power of Agrology NEE: Real-time carbon flows.
Allows growers to better understand carbon dynamics and soil microbial activity, key factors in the humification of carbon (ie: long-term storage).
Fills in the gaps of traditional MMRV approaches: increasing accuracy and transparency in agricultural and nature-based carbon programs.
Allows for the creation of bespoke environmental assets to differentiate products, regions and practices via ground-truth data.
NEE Measurement Matters.
The NEE System enables groundbreaking insights into carbon flux dynamics, advancing climate-smart agriculture and nature-based carbon mitigation. Agrology addresses the limitations of traditional measurement technologies, making access to NEE data more affordable and scalable to accelerate climate-smart solutions globally.
Agrology’s system changes the game by offering:
Affordable solutions for widespread adoption.
Scalable technology that fits diverse ecosystems and farming operations.
Precise data validated against industry gold standards like flux towers.
By democratizing NEE measurement, we empower stakeholders to take meaningful steps toward climate resilience and carbon sequestration.
“NEE is a vital metric for understanding in-field carbon dynamics,” said Dr. Francois Visser, CEO of Carbon Friendly. “By providing continuous, in-situ data on the carbon cycle and microclimate, Agrology provides growers with a revolutionary tool to manage and increase carbon accumulation in their soils. We are excited to see this technology advance and help our clients reduce uncertainty and improve their carbon farming.”
The First Scalable and Affordable NEE Measurement System.
Unlocks new insights into carbon flows and regenerative land management
Allows for affordable ground-truthing of models and MMRV programs
Brings a new dataset into agronomic management: allowing growers to monitor carbon flows, soil biology and photosynthesis - three precursors to building healthier soils, farm-ecosystems and low-input production
Features:
Small, Cost-Effective Environmental Sensors that measure air temperature, humidity, soil moisture, soil temperature, barometric pressure, and other factors influencing greenhouse gas fluxes.
Soil CO₂ Flux Measurement: Chambers monitor CO₂ emissions from soil respiration - a key indicator of soil microbial activity and soil health.
Concentration Gradient: Infrared sensors track CO₂ movement across the ground, canopy, and background.
Machine Learning Model: In-field measurements feed into a machine learning model to calculate NEE.
Researchers: Apply for our NEE Beta Program
Agrology has launched a beta program for select U.S. researchers, which will continue throughout 2025. To apply for the beta program, complete this form and someone on our team will be in touch.
Simplifying Climate Action Through Innovation.
The Science Behind the Innovation
Agrology’s system has undergone extensive field testing to ensure accuracy and reliability. A year-long study at six diverse U.S. sites demonstrated strong alignment with traditional eddy covariance towers, confirming its potential to transform carbon flux measurement across:
Corn and soy rotation
Corn and wheat forage rotation
Sustainable vineyards
Conventional almond orchards
Cross-validated against eddy covariance towers
Beyond linear regressions, the directional accuracy of the Arbiter System was also analyzed. This analysis assessed whether the Arbiter System consistently matched the flux direction (uptake or emission) measured by the EC flux towers and identified conditions under which discrepancies arose. The Arbiter System demonstrated high directional agreement under most conditions, reinforcing its reliability in capturing the temporal and spatial variability of carbon fluxes.
Robust Data Comparison
To visually initially validate the performance of the Agrology devices, six comparative charts of NEE data were generated, juxtaposing typical daily outputs from the eddy covariance flux towers and the Agrology Arbiter Systems. Across all sites, the NEE curves from the novel devices were largely visually aligned with those of the eddy covariance flux towers, demonstrating comparable diurnal and seasonal trends. This alignment underscores the robustness of the Agrology Arbiter System for capturing carbon dynamics while providing a cost-effective alternative to eddy covariance towers for large-scale deployment. Seen here is one of the charts. To view the full results, read our research article.
Accurate Results
The performance of the Arbiter System was evaluated by comparing its Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) measurements to those obtained from traditional eddy covariance (EC) flux towers across six diverse sites. The Arbiter System achieved an overall coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.71, indicating a strong correlation between the two methods. This result demonstrates that the proposed low-cost system delivers performance comparable to the gold-standard EC towers in capturing carbon flux dynamics, underscoring its potential as a scalable and cost-effective alternative for ecosystem-scale carbon monitoring. Shown here is one result and to view more download our full article.
Read the Science.
For a detailed dive into the science, download our journal article summarizing the findings of our cross-validation.
Growers, Researchers, and Carbon Developers: This is for You.
“Agrology’s NEE System presents a critical advance for climate-smart agriculture, nature-based carbon mitigation, and ecosystem science, which all require continuous field-based measurements to track and integrate for spatial-temporal variation in carbon fluxes. Direct measurement-based data on carbon flux dynamics enables climate action at farm-level and supports agriculture in transitioning to climate-smart practices.”
- Dr. Michael R. Schuppenhauer, Principal Investigator and Affiliate at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.
Our system bridges the gap between data and action, offering benefits tailored to your needs:
Growers: Understand your soil’s carbon dynamics, unlock new revenue streams, and enhance climate-smart practices.
Researchers: Access scalable, accurate data for ecosystem science and climate studies.
Carbon Developers: Build robust, data-driven methodologies for carbon markets and investment opportunities.