Athian’s livestock carbon credit marketplace completes latest round of funding thanks to the investment by California Dairies, Inc. and DSM Venturing

Athian (athian.ai) announces the completion of their seed funding round with investments from two strategic partners: DSM Venturing, the corporate venture arm of Royal DSM, a global, purpose-led company in Health, Nutrition & Bioscience, and California Dairies, Inc. (CDI), the largest dairy farmer-owned cooperative in California and second largest in the United States. Athian, the world’s first carbon marketplace for the livestock sector, advances the global acceptance of its novel transactional carbon credit inset program with this investment from DSM Venturing and CDI, along with previous investors, Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN), Tyson Ventures and Newtrient LLC.

This game-changing innovation provides livestock producers with economic incentives for on-farm sustainability practices, while helping improve global food system sustainability and reducing climate warming. “CDI’s membership has been leading the way in sustainable dairy farming investments, and we continue to move as fast as technology and on-farm economics allow,” said Simon Vander Woude, chairman of the board at CDI. “This is an opportunity to showcase that hard work while doubling down to drive innovation and further improve our environmental footprint, ensuring that our farms produce some of the most sustainable milk in the world, across all the various pillars of sustainability.”

“We are excited by CDI and DSM Venturing’s enthusiasm for our innovative carbon marketplace platform. The groundswell of support has been tremendous” said Paul Myer, CEO of Athian. “This announcement not only expedites our reach into international markets but also accelerates practical environmental solutions that give farmers new revenue streams and helps companies deliver on their sustainability commitments throughout the value chain.”

Athian’s carbon credit insetting platform will enable livestock farmers who implement sustainable practices the ability to earn revenue to fund those initiatives. Athian’s key mission is to help the beef and dairy value chains capture and claim carbon credits earned through sustainability efforts. Athian aggregates, validates, and certifies, greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and monetizes those reductions through the sale of carbon credits which offer value to the supply chain as important carbon assets related to Scope 3 emissions.

“Global climate change requires all of us working together. And now, Athian can deliver on our goal of connecting the whole value chain,” said Myer. “By joining forces with investors like CDI, DSM Venturing and others throughout the livestock industry, we have a unique opportunity, with all the voices at the table, to support sustainability practice changes through carbon incentives. Together we can move the needle on climate change.”

In connection with these investments, Scott Horner, Regional Managing Director North America at DSM Venturing, and Darrin Montiero, Vice President of Sustainability at CDI, will join the Athian Board of Directors in an observer capacity.