For several years, biochar developers choosing a methodology have really been choosing among three: Verra VM0044, Puro.earth and Isometric. Gold Standard has always been named as a fourth possibility, but without a dedicated biochar methodology of its own, it stayed on the sidelines of that conversation. That changed in April 2026.
Why a fourth biochar standard matters
Methodology choice shapes everything downstream — measurement rules, permanence treatment, buyer recognition and price. A credible new entrant matters because it can open a pathway better suited to project types the existing three don't serve as well, particularly smallholder- and community-scale production, which is common across India's crop-residue landscape.
What PARC actually is
Gold Standard's PARC methodology is reported to use a three-track architecture, scaling documentation and verification requirements from micro-scale, distributed production up to large industrial facilities — intended to keep the pathway accessible to smallholder and decentralised producers without diluting scientific rigour for bigger operators. It is structured as a pure carbon-removal framework, issuing credits only for durable CO2 sequestration and explicitly excluding avoided-emissions claims, and is reported to include digital verification tools and adjustments for factors such as weather variability and yield loss.
Where PARC stands today
That matters for a very practical reason: Gold Standard's biochar pathway does not yet have the track record that comes from live issuance. By contrast, the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) has already approved three biochar methodologies against its Core Carbon Principles — Verra's VM0044 (v1.2), Climate Action Reserve's US/Canada Biochar (v1.0), and Isometric's Biochar Production and Storage protocol — giving those pathways an independent integrity signal that PARC does not yet carry.
| Standard | Status (mid-2026) | Scale focus | ICVCM CCP approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verra VM0044 (v1.2) | Operational, established | Broad — soil and non-soil | Approved |
| Puro.earth | Operational, established | Industrial/durable-removal focus | Not covered in the same CCP batch as of mid-2026 — verify current status |
| Isometric | Operational, established | Broad, science-led protocol | Approved |
| Gold Standard PARC (NMC 110) | In development / consultation (April 2026) | Three-track: micro to industrial | Not yet applicable — methodology not finalised |
What this means for Indian project developers
For a project that needs to start now, PARC is not yet a viable choice — you cannot register against a methodology still in consultation. The practical takeaway is to keep building on VM0044, Puro.earth or Isometric, which have issuance history, buyer familiarity and, for two of the three, ICVCM approval.
Where PARC becomes genuinely interesting is for smallholder- and FPO-aggregated projects — exactly the model common across India's crop-residue geography. If its micro-scale track lives up to its stated intent, it could eventually offer a pathway purpose-built for decentralised production, rather than a smallholder project having to fit itself into a framework designed around larger facilities. That is a reason to monitor PARC closely, not a reason to wait and delay a project that could be moving forward under an established methodology today.
How to decide whether to wait or proceed now
A few questions help make the call:
- Do you need credits issued in the next 12–18 months? If yes, an established methodology is the only realistic option.
- Is your project genuinely smallholder- or micro-scale? If PARC's track structure is built for exactly this case, it may be worth tracking closely as it finalises — without pausing feedstock and feasibility work in the meantime.
- Does your buyer have a methodology preference? Many corporate offtake agreements specify a standard; check before assuming flexibility.
None of these questions require choosing a methodology before feasibility work is done — methodology selection should follow, not precede, a clear picture of your feedstock, scale and quality targets.
The bottom line
Gold Standard entering the biochar market with a dedicated, smallholder-aware methodology is a meaningful development for India's project landscape — but as of mid-2026 it is a pathway to watch, not yet one to plan around. Established standards remain the credible route to market today.
If you are weighing methodology options for a new or existing project, our validation and verification advisory tracks these standards as they evolve. Get in touch to talk through which pathway fits your project now — and whether it makes sense to keep an eye on PARC for the future.
Methodology status, in-development details and ICVCM approval status are reported as of July 2026 based on public announcements and are subject to change. Verify current status directly with Gold Standard, ICVCM and each registry before making decisions.